A Lake Elmo man accused of barricading a 13-year-old girl in his home while he raped her was charged Wednesday in Washington County District Court.

Anthony Edward Peterson, 21, didn't know the girl but contacted her Saturday through a mutual acquaintance and persuaded her and one of her friends to ride with him from her residence in Mound to Lake Elmo, according to the criminal complaint. Peterson allegedly forced the girl into sex acts in a basement bedroom and barred the door to prevent her escape, the complaint said.

The victim and her 12-year-old friend eventually ran from the house to a nearby Target store late Saturday night or early Sunday morning after Peterson fell asleep, the complaint said. They called their parents, who notified Oakdale police.

According to the complaint:

The victim previously had spent time in a shelter in Hastings where she became acquainted with Peterson's girlfriend. They exchanged cell phone numbers. On Saturday about 1 p.m., the 13-year-old girl received a text message from Peterson asking where she lived, what school she attended and her age. She told police that Peterson initiated the text messages but that she replied.

The girl and her friend met Peterson and his male friend at a service station in Spring Park and then rode to Lake Elmo with them.

When they arrived at Peterson's house both men began drinking alcohol. Peterson had marijuana in a safe in his basement bedroom. The victim expected to see Peterson's girlfriend at the house, but she wasn't there. The girl said she felt "awkward" and asked to go home.

While Peterson's friend smoked marijuana, Peterson took the 13-year-old girl into a basement bedroom where he threw her on a bed, undressed her and forced her into oral and vaginal sex, the complaint said. He closed the door and propped a chair against it, ignoring her pleas to leave. She later told investigators that she felt "really scared for my life" and being afraid of Peterson, she didn't resist.

The girls ran from the house sometime between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. after Peterson fell sleep. The girl was examined by a forensic nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

The complaint also said that when Peterson drove the girls to Lake Elmo, "the defendant appeared to be freaking out looking around and acting strangely," said he was nervous that police might be following him, and said "he cannot be with girls under the age of 16 because he is on probation."

Public records show that Peterson was convicted in February in Hennepin County of damage to property, a gross misdemeanor. In December, he was convicted in Washington County of felony drug possession.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is investigating because Lake Elmo contracts with the county for policing. Investigators searched Peterson's house Monday, said Chief Deputy Mike Johnson.

Peterson is charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He remains in custody at the Washington County jail.

Kevin Giles • 612-673-4432