Rochester Man Accused of Physically & Sexually Abusing Child

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a Rochester man accused of sexually and physically abusing a young girl over a span of multiple years.

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The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Thursday, says the young girl reported the abuse started when she was five and lasted until she was 12 or 13.

Rochester Police took their first report of the alleged abuse in February of 2023. A family member of the victim, identified as 42-year-old Ezequiel Rojas-Gasca, was listed as the suspect in the report.

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The girl accused Rojas-Gasca of sexually abusing her in 2015 when she was five years old, the charges say.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, resources are available for help. Visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or dial 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).

She also told police Rojas-Gasca would hit her and described incidents in which Rojas-Gasca struck her with a belt and with a cord in 2022, the complaint says.

The charges say the girl also reported being struck in face by Rojas-Gasca in January of last year. A different family told police she had witnessed Rojas-Gasca striking the girl with a belt as a form of discipline, the charges say.

Rojas-Gasca has been charged with felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct and two gross-misdemeanor counts of malicious punishment of a child. He’s due to make his first court appearance next month.