Hopkins man pleads guilty to assault, criminal sexual conduct

A Hopkins man has pleaded guilty to assault and criminal sexual conduct charges.

According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old DeQuarn Bell pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree assault and promoting prostitution.

Grand jury indicts Hopkins man on criminal sexual conduct, assault charges

According to a criminal complaint, Hopkins police were called to a gas station on Sept. 9, 2019, on the report of a domestic assault. When officers arrived at the gas station, they met with the victim who said Bell had assaulted her in July and burned her in multiple places with a hot curling iron. The victim also said Bell sexually assaulted her and wouldn’t let her leave the apartment following the assault. Eventually, she escaped and ran to the gas station to call police.

The complaint says when officers searched Bell’s apartment, they were able to recover a curling iron.

Bell’s sentencing is set for Dec. 4. The attorney’s office said he’s expected to be sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 30 years due to the severity of the assault.