The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

October 22, 2012

Mankato man being sued by sex assault victim

By Dan Nienaber Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — A Mankato man who was sent to prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a girl he knew is being sued by his victim.

The victim was a teenager when the assaults occurred over several years. She is now an adult and living in another city and seeking damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and court costs. Her lawsuit claims she has suffered emotional distress, physical and mental anguish, bodily injury and physical sickness as a result of the assaults.

Thomas Gerard Goebel, 49, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal sexual conduct and assault in September 2010. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison. With credit for good time and time he had served in jail after his arrest, Goebel was placed on supervised release from the prison in Lino Lakes.

His victim told investigators Goebel started sexually assaulting her by touching her and attempting to make her sexually touch him when she was about 14 years old.

In 2007, Goebel walked into a bathroom with a video camera while the victim was showering. When she attempted to cover herself, he forced her to move her hands. The assault continued until the victim threatened to tell another adult about his behavior. Goebel later held a steak knife to the victim’s throat and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident with the video camera, according to the criminal complaint.

About a year after the assault, Goebel pulled the girl’s pants down and sexually touched her, the victim reported.

The victim is seeking in excess of $50,000 each for battery, assault and emotional distress.

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