Man Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct Following Alleged Incidents at Twin Cities Retail Stores
Published: October 12th 2026.
BLOOMINGTON MN - A man has been charged in Hennepin County with gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct following an investigation into allegations that he approached women at retail stores and used claims about spiders on their clothing to initiate unwanted physical contact.
Nathaniel Terrell Jones, 24, faces one count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving nonconsensual sexual contact, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, Bloomington police investigated two encounters involving the same woman at separate retail stores in May and July 2026.
The first alleged incident occurred May 29, when a woman was shopping at a Bloomington retail store. Prosecutors allege that a man approached her and claimed there was a spider on her back. After the woman agreed to let him remove it, the man allegedly touched her inappropriately.
The woman became uncomfortable and confronted the man, who claimed he was removing a spider before walking away, according to the complaint.
Although the woman did not immediately contact police, investigators later obtained text messages she had sent to a family member shortly after the alleged incident.
On July 20, the same woman was shopping at another nearby retail store when she reportedly encountered a man she recognized from the previous incident.
According to court documents, the man approached her in the parking lot and again claimed there was a spider on her back. The woman refused his assistance and told him to leave her alone.
The woman recorded the man as he left in a vehicle and contacted police. Investigators subsequently identified Jones through vehicle registration information, surveillance footage and a comparison with his driver's license photograph, according to the complaint.
During the investigation, Bloomington police also learned of a similar alleged incident at a retail store in Roseville on May 7, 2026.
According to the complaint, another woman reported that a man approached her while she was shopping, claimed there was a spider on her clothing and subsequently touched her inappropriately. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the man watching and following the woman before approaching her.
Investigators identified Jones as the individual involved in that incident, according to court documents.
The complaint states that Jones later spoke with an investigator by telephone and acknowledged his involvement in the Roseville incident. He initially claimed he had been attempting to remove a spider but subsequently admitted that his actions were motivated by an urge.
Jones also acknowledged approaching the woman during the July 20 encounter in Bloomington but stated that he walked away without touching her after she refused his assistance.
According to the complaint, Jones expressed remorse for his conduct and indicated that he would not repeat it.
Jones has been charged with one count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
The complaint states that Jones was not in custody at the time it was prepared.
The allegations involving the additional encounters are described in the complaint as part of the investigation and do not constitute separate charges in this Hennepin County case.
All allegations remain subject to proof in court, and Jones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.