A 20-year-old man was charged Thursday with driving around Columbia Heights after school let out and trying to lure girls into having sex with him.
Jesse W. Asher was charged in Anoka County District Court with solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct and stalking a juvenile with sexual or aggressive intent. The Sheriff's Office gives his address as being in New Brighton, while the criminal complaint lists a Coon Rapids residence.
The Sheriff's Office said Asher drove around the city in an SUV and approached teenage girls in three instances seeking sexual favors from them.
Asher was arrested Tuesday and remains jailed.
According to two complaints filed against Asher:
On Oct. 26, Asher asked two 15-year-olds in Keys Park whether they wanted to have "fun" and engage in oral sex. The teens declined.
From September until late October, Asher followed another 15-year-old as the teen walked alone after school. The teen told police that the SUV driver identified himself as Jesse from Irondale High School.
The teen changed routes out of fear of him and told police that the man said he wanted to receive oral sex.
