Missing Teen Case Leads To Guilty Plea In Rochester

Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)-A Rochester man accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl and being in possession of illegal firearms has entered a guilty plea.

Court documents indicate the charges in both cases stem from the report of a missing teenage girl in July of 2024.

The man charged in the cases, identified as 38-year-old Donald Priester, entered the plea agreement on Thursday.

Plea Deal Settles Teen Sex Assault, Gun and Drug Charges Against Rochester Man

Priester was accused of sexually assaulting the teenage girl twice on July 20 of 2024.

The criminal complaint in that case alleges the second assault happened at gunpoint and that he told her they had to have sex because he had a gun prior to the first sexual assault.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, resources are available for help. Visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or dial 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).

The missing 14-year-old girl, who is described in court documents as the victim of the sex assaults, was located by Rochester police in southeast Rochester.

She told officers that she asked Priester to pick her up from western Wisconsin and drive her to Rochester.

She stated the first sex assaults happened while they were in transit and that the second occurred after they got to Rochester.

Charges from Gun and Drug Bust

While investigating the report of the missing teen, officers went to Priester’s home after receiving a report that he dropped the girl off at a nearby park, the criminal complaint in the firearms case says.

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Officers questioned Priester, who told police he had been in contact with her and showed officers text messages, some of which were sexual in nature, the court document says.

Police located a handgun without a serial number after Priester allowed officers into his home to confirm the missing girl was not there, according to court documents.

Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant and found two AR-15 rifles that also did not have serial numbers, a second handgun, ammunition, 152 suspected MDMA pills, 3.8 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, 17 suspected Xanax bars, and a scale inside of the residence, the charges allege.

Officers then arrested Priester and found $3259 in cash on his person, the complaint says.

Terms of Plea Agreement

Priester was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree assault in the criminal sexual conduct case.

Three counts of possessing a firearm without a serial number, second-degree drug sales, second-degree drug possession and fifth-degree drug possession were filed against him following the search of his home.

The plea agreement calls for Priester to enter guilty pleas to second-degree drug possession in the gun and drug case and to third-degree criminal sexual conduct in the sex assault case.

The agreement recommends a 78-month prison sentence. Priester is scheduled to be sentenced in December.