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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The bomb threat that prompted an evacuation of Apache Mall in Rochester last weekend led to the arrest of a rural Rochester man on sexual assault and domestic assault charges.

28-year-old Andrew William Jones was arraigned Friday in Olmsted County Court on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two felony counts of domestic assault. His bail was set at $200,000.

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According to the criminal complaint, a Rochester police officer who responded to the bomb threat at Apache Mall noticed that one worker appeared more shaken than others. The officer asked if she was okay and she indicated she was not, but also stated that her stress was not due to the bomb threat and told the officer that she had been assaulted the night before.

TJ Leverentz/TSM
TJ Leverentz/TSM
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The woman told the officer that she had gone to the home of Andrew Jones the night of May 20th. She alleged that Jones was intoxicated and while they were engaged in consensual sexual conduct, he put his hand around her throat and squeezed hard enough that her arm went numb before he released his grip after she twice signaled for him to stop.

The court document says Jones, who continued to engage in sexual activity with the victim, then allegedly said "I'm going to kill you," and began to choke her with both hands. The woman told the investigator she was afraid she was going to die, but Jones eventually released her after she struck him and he immediately expressed remorse.

Olmsted County Sheriff's Office photo
Olmsted County Sheriff's Office photo
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The criminal complaint says Jones was interviewed by an Olmsted County Sheriff's Department Detective and indicated he was "already drunk" by the time the woman arrived at his home. He admitted that he strangled her "harder than he meant to" but also stated that he did not recall the second strangulation incident or the death threat. The court document also says Jones told the detective that he had drunk "way above his normal consumption" and was not in full possession of his faculties.

Andrew Jones criminal complaint - Olmsted County Court-
Andrew Jones criminal complaint - Olmsted County Court-
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Court records show he has previous convictions for domestic assault by strangulation and third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

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