A Star Tribune newspaper delivery man out on his route stopped a 14-year-old autistic runaway in the middle of the night in her Rogers neighborhood and received a lap dance from her in his car, according to authorities.
Joshua C. Hart, 36, of Princeton, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and remains jailed in lieu of $30,000 bail.
According to the criminal complaint:
The teen told police that she fled her home about 3 a.m. on Jan. 7 intending to run away. Hart drove by as she walked down the street and invited her into his car. She told Hart her age, that she's autistic and was running away to become a stripper overseas.
Hart parked behind some townhouses, and the teen showed her breasts to Hart before she gave him a lap dance.
He drove the teen to a gas station in Rogers, where he gave her money and a cigarette. They exchanged kisses on the cheek before she got out of the car.
Hart told officers that he was delivering the Star Tribune when he spotted the girl. He admitted to what the teen told authorities and explained that "he thought he was doing the [girl] a 'favor' because after this experience she would change her mind about being a stripper," the complaint read.
