Henry student accused of sex assault at school

Police have arrested an 18-year-old student at Patrick Henry High School and accused him of the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl that took place in the Minneapolis school this week.

According to a complaint filed Friday in Hennepin County District Court, the girl told police that Raevon Lattrell Conner and another male student waylaid her after she left the school nurse's office. The girl said Conner brought her to the school basement while his companion stood upstairs as a lookout.

Conner is accused of forcing her to perform oral sex until the bell rang for the next class, then he pushed her away and ran.

The girl told police that she didn't know Conner but that he had sometimes waited for her outside her classes. She was afraid of him and had run away from him in the past, but followed him to the basement because she didn't feel she had a choice.

She said that Conner later overheard her telling friends about the assault and that he threatened to slap her if she told anyone else.

Conner faces one charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony that could bring prison time of up to 15 years and a fine of up to $30,000.

It was unclear whether the second male has been arrested.

All Minneapolis public schools have building safety plans, and Patrick Henry High School is working with police on the investigation, said Emily Lowther, a media relations assistant with the school district. School staff members are also spending more time patrolling less-travelled areas of the school in response to the assault, and more security cameras may be installed, said Minneapolis police Sgt. Jesse Garcia.

Sarah Lemagie • 952-882-9016