St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Girl

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud man has admitted to sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl multiple times in 2017.

Fifty-six-year-old David Lenarz Jr. has pleaded guilty to two counts of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between 13-15-years-old while in a position of authority and soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, Lenarz was a friend of the girl's family and was allowed to have a parental role over the girl. She would spend time at Lenarz's home and help with maintaining his land.

The girl told investigators that Lenarz was driving the girl to her youth group when he sexually touched her groin area over her yoga pants. In another instance, Lenarz is accused of touching the girl underneath her bra.

Court records show Lenarz told the girl she should try modeling and gave her a name and number of a woman who would help her. The girl was asked and provided nude photos of herself to the phone number provided which investigators later learned was his cell phone.

Authorities say they found numerous electronics in his home including computers and cell phones, including the girl's phone he had taken from her. Police say they saw handwritten notes with the girl's social media account usernames, passwords, and the password to her cell phone. Police confiscated the items and say nude photos of the girl were found on his phone.

The girl's mother added that when she noticed inappropriate text messages between Lenarz and her daughter she confronted him. Police say Lenarz told the mom that the girl's phone was hacked.

Lenarz will be sentenced in February.