West bound for trial in sex assault case

A Hudson man charged with three felony counts of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl has been bound over for trial.

Michael James West, 30, appeared in St. Croix County Circuit Court July 2 in a preliminary hearing. Judge Scott Needham found probable cause West committed a crime and bound him over for trial. An arraignment hearing, when West will plead to the charges, was set for July 10.

He is accused of having a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl without her consent. The incident occurred early June 17 at West’s Hudson residence, the criminal complaint said.

The charges stemmed from the investigation of a complaint of a juvenile runaway who had been under house arrest.

West allegedly met the girl outside in a residential area early in the morning, took her to the bedroom in his apartment where he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. The girl knew West from a previous meeting, the complaint said.

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