Convict expected to return for sentencing 

By Brandi Makuski

A 42-year-old Minnesota man was found guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a woman while she slept in a north side hotel.

John M. Reid, 42 of Brooklyn Park, Minn., was convicted on Feb. 2 after the conclusion of a two-day trial in Portage Co. Circuit Court. The jury was in deliberations for about 90 minutes.

Reid was charged, but never taken into custody, after entering a woman’s Baymont Inn hotel room just after 2 AM on Jan. 31, 2016, and sexually assaulted her as she slept. The woman, a 32-year-old from the Oshkosh area, woke up during the assault and called police. Reid fled the scene but did speak with police on the phone later that day.

“The defense [tactic] was that it was a mistake, that the defendant believed [the victim] was conscious and did consent to what was going on,” said Assistant District Attorney Cass Cousins. “It didn’t make a lot of sense to me; it obviously didn’t make a lot of sense to the jury.”

Prior to the trial, Reid was free on a $10,000 signature bond. Following his conviction on Wednesday, Judge Robert Shannon released him on a $500 cash bond.

Reid was given 24 hours to make the payment. Court records indicate he posted his bail on Friday.

Cousins said he “strenuously” argued Reid should be held in custody until sentencing, but Roberts agreed to the low cash bail because Reid, who has a felony drug conviction in Minnesota, has never missed a court appearance.

“This case was a horrible one,” Cousins said. “But the victim called police right away, she underwent a very invasive [sexual assault] exam so evidence could be collected. The police department did a great job collecting evidence and information. I feel very good about the verdict.”

For the conviction of second-degree sexual assault of an unconscious person, Reid faces up to 40 years imprisonment and $100,000 in fines. He returns to court for sentencing April 14 at 10 AM.