FAIRMONT — A Fairmont man is facing multiple felony charges in Martin County.

Alexander Sterling Johnson, 20, has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Johnson is also charged with one count of making threats of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He is also charged with engaging in electronic communication relating to sexual conduct with a child, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On Sept. 25, 2019, the Sherburn/Welcome Police Department received information that a possible sexual assault had occurred. An officer spoke with two witnesses at their residence in Trimont on Oct. 1. The witnesses advised that their daughter, 13 at the time of the alleged incident, was touched inappropriately by Johnson in the spring of 2019. They indicated the incident occurred at a play at the Sherburn Theatre.

On Oct. 7, an employee with Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties spoke with the girl. The girl said she had met Johnson in the fall of 2018 through a school play they were in together. She indicated they became friends and began talking in person and through social media. The girl said Johnson “wanted more” but she told him it could not happen because he was 19. She said Johnson told her nobody would have to know.

The girl explained that in the spring of 2019, during one of the play dress rehearsals, Johnson touched her “in places he wasn’t supposed to.”

She said Johnson touched her again at a track practice later that year. She said she told her friend, who confirmed that Johnson was doing the same thing with her and talking about raping her.

The girl provided the officer with text messages sent between herself and Johnson. The officer obtained similar text messages between Johnson and both girls.