Rochester Man Sentenced For Sexual Abuse of Young Child

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has been sentenced to jail after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl, an ordeal that reportedly began in their childhood and continued into his adulthood.

Joshua Brian Shoden, 24, faced charges that emerged from an investigation initiated by Rochester police in response to an adult woman's disclosure of previous sexual abuse to a family member. Court documents reveal that the victim reported that Shoden had started assaulting her when she was just five years old, and the abuse persisted until she was nearly 17. He was charged with three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and a felony count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

In late 2022, Shoden entered a plea agreement, admitting to the fourth-degree charge. In exchange, the charges related to second-degree criminal sexual conduct were dropped.

As a result of his plea, Shoden has been sentenced to 20 days in jail, during which he will have work release privileges. Furthermore, he has been placed on probation for a decade and is required to register as a predatory offender.

This case highlights the ongoing issue of childhood sexual abuse and the legal system's efforts to address such offenses. Shoden's admission and subsequent sentencing serve as a reminder of the impact such crimes have on victims and the importance of accountability.