Thief River Falls Woman Serves 18 Months for Sex With Girl

A Thief River Falls woman charged with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct for having a sexual relationship with a then 15-year-old girl will serve 18 months in prison. She will get credit for time already served.

Mali Newton,26, was in court Monday for a review hearing in Pennington County on the charges.

The statement of probable cause says that on January 10 of 2008, the Thief River Falls police department received a report from the high school that a 15-year-old girl was suspected to be involved sexually with a 23-year-old woman. The official from the school said the girl had confided that a woman, Mali Rachel Newton, 23, had sent her sexual text messages. The girl then made a statement to police that she had been touched sexually in the groin area by Newton every day for the last two weeks, and had smoked marijuana with Newton.

The complaint says that police interviewed Newton that same day at her home and that Newton admitted she was in a sexual relationship with the 15-year-old girl and had touched the girl's genitals daily. Newton also admitted smoking marijuana with the teen.

Newton was sentenced to the 18 months because she violated the terms of her probation.

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