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Pair facing felony counts

FAIRMONT — A Granada man and Fairmont woman are facing felony charges in Martin County.

Russell Dean Olson, 52, has been charged with prostitution via the hiring of a 15-year-old, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Olson is also charged with soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Hailey Kristina Carlson, 18, has been charged with aiding and abetting prostitution, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On March 14 a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy received notification of a possible underage solicitation for prostitution. The deputy met with a 15-year-old girl, the girl’s mother, and a representative from Human Resources.

The girl said that on Oct. 18, 2017, she was spending time with Carlson, who knew the girl wanted money. She said Carlson told her she could get her $200. Carlson told the girl the prior night she received $200 from a person named Russell who lived in Imogene. Olson’s mailing address is in Granada.

The girl agree to go to Imogene with Carlson and another individual. While driving there, Carlson used the girl’s phone to communicate with Olson. Right before they got there, Carlson told the girl that to get the $200 she would have to give Olson sexual favors.

Carlson told the girl that she did not give Olson sexual favors the prior night, but the expectation was that Carlson would return in one to two days to provide sexual favors.

Carlson and the girl agreed they would enter the house together, talk with Olson, get the $200, and leave without providing sexual favors, as Carlson had done the prior evening.

The girl said they both exited the car and knocked on the door, which Olson answered and then let them inside. The girl said she began telling Olson she needed money to run away to Rochester and wanted his help. Olson asked why she needed to run away if she was 18, and she stated she was 15.

Olson told Carlson to leave the house and come back in 15 to 20 minutes. Carlson then pretended to take a phone call, but stayed in the house with direct line of sight to the girl.

Olson proceeded to tell the girl that he would not want the cash back that he gave her. The girl asked Olson what he meant and Olson said, “Do I have to spell it out for you? The money is for sexual favors.” Carlson pretended to hang up the phone and said they needed to pick up a friend but they needed gas money.

Olson opened his wallet and pulled out five $20 bills and handed the cash to the girl. Olson said he would trust her just this one time, and told her to return after they finished helping their friend. While back in the car, the girl gave Carlson $40, and kept $60, and the girl did not return that night or any time thereafter.

On March 20, the deputy met with Carlson at the Martin County Law Enforcement Center. Carlson said she knows the girl, and that she is like her little sister. The deputy then asked Carlson if she remembered what happened in October when she was with the girl in Imogene.

Carlson said she was struggling to support herself and needed money, and indicated she knew Olson helped people with money because he had plenty of it. She contacted Olson through Facebook Messenger to arrange to get money.

Carlson said she remembered going into the house with the girl, and they stood near an interior door in the kitchen area while Olson was seated in the dining room. Carlson indicated she asked for $200 cash and Olson said he could pay her back, but it would be in exchange for sex, and Carlson said she would not have sex with him. Olson then said if she would pay him back, he would give her the money.

Olson handed Carlson the $200 and printed off a contract from a computer for her to pay him back. Carlson stated she signed it and left.

On March 21, the deputy met with the girl and her mother at the Martin County Law Enforcement Center. The mother said she was approached in October by Olson at a bar in Fairmont. Olson told her the girl owes him $100 for heroin. The mother said she told Olson that she knew the girl did not use heroin and told him to stay away from the girl. The mother indicated she has heard from others that Olson provides money and sometimes rent in exchange for sex.

The girl noted that Carlson was using her Facebook Messenger to speak with Olson, and showed the deputy part of the conversation on her phone.

During the conversation about the agreement for cash, Olson asked them to call another adult male. The deputy then applied for search warrants for the Facebook accounts of Carlson, the girl, Olson and another man. In conversations between Carlson and the other man, the deputy found Carlson had asked the man for controlled substances. Also found were conversations between Carlson, pretending to be the girl, and Olson — as well as Olson and the other man — discussing the situation.

On May 7, the deputy again met with Carlson, who indicated she was introduced to Olson through the other man. She indicated she knew on Oct. 17, 2017, that the girl needed money and that Olson would offer her money for sex. Carlson said she knew the girl was 15.

On May 15, the deputy interviewed Olson at the Martin County Law Enforcement Center, where he was read his rights and indicated he understood them. During the interview, Olson admitted to knowing Carlson and the girl.

When asked if he ever offered money in exchange for sex to Carlson at his residence in Imogene, Olson denied doing so. Olson admitted he gave Carlson more than $100 around Oct. 15, 2017.

Olson also denied giving money in exchange for sex to the girl, but did admit to giving her $100. He said he knew the girl was younger than 18, and the money was so she could stay at a hotel.

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