Southeast Minnesota Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Attempted Child Sex Assault

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A 28-year-old Rochester sex offender entered a plea agreement on the day of his trial in a sexual assault case. 

Read More: Southeast Minnesota Sex Offender Charged With Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct 

The charges say the alleged sexual advance happened at a Rochester group home in January of 2025. The victim in the case was under the age of 14 at the time.  

Investigators learned the child was visiting a group home in Rochester and was playing hide-and-seek with one of the residents, identified in the complaint as Ethan Hunter Johnson. 

Minnesota Sex Offender Charged With Attempted Child Sex Assault Enters Plea Deal

The girl Rochester police that Johnson exposed himself to her while the two were in his room. She also stated that Johnson sexually assaulted her, according to the court document. 

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).

The charges say Johnson moved out of the group home to a different address in Rochester and did not complete a change of information requirement. 

Prior Conviction

Court records indicate Johnson was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Winona County in 2019.

He was required to register as a predatory offender as a result of the conviction. 

Plea Deal Ahead of Trial

He was charged with felony first and second-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct and gross misdemeanor indecent exposure. 

See Also: Boat Belonging to Family of Fallen Southeast Minnesota Police Officer Stolen 

On Monday, Johnson agreed to a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to the second-degree count in exchange for the dismissal of the first-degree count. 

He’s scheduled to be sentenced in July.