A Granite Falls man has entered a plea deal with prosecutors, admitting to second-degree criminal sexual conduct after initially facing multiple charges for an assault on his girlfriend at St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul last year.
20-year-old Keanu A. Labatte was originally charged in September with three counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, domestic assault by strangulation, and threats of violence. The charges stemmed from a September incident where he allegedly held the victim against her will for three days, during which he assaulted and terrorized her. The victim managed to notify authorities when she was allowed to go to the cafeteria for food, leading to Labatte’s arrest.
Court documents revealed that Labatte became infuriated after discovering text messages and social media content on the victim’s phone. On Friday, Labatte pleaded guilty to the amended charge, admitting to choking and sexually assaulting the woman, while other charges were dismissed. He now faces up to seven and a half years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November.
Labatte’s lawyer stated that his client denies other accusations, including waterboarding, holding the victim hostage, and kidnapping. Prosecutors intend to seek the maximum sentence.
