Man Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct Following Alleged Incident at Maplewood Park
Published: August 11th, 2026.
MAPLEWOOD: A 20-year-old man has been charged in Ramsey County with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct and indecent exposure following an alleged encounter with a man at a Maplewood park.
Nathan Cheening Lee is charged with one gross misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving alleged nonconsensual sexual contact and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure, according to a Ramsey County criminal complaint.
According to the complaint, shortly before 11 a.m. on Aug. 3, a man was riding a bicycle while pulling his young daughter in a trailer at Harvest Park in Maplewood when he was approached by a man he did not know.
The complaint alleges the man made comments of a sexual nature and asked whether he could touch the bicyclist. The bicyclist reportedly attempted to move away, but the man allegedly touched him without his consent.
The bicyclist then left the area, according to the probable cause statement.
Later that morning, officers were called to Keller Park in Maplewood following a report of a man allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior in the park. The complaint states the individual was described as a heavyset Asian male wearing black clothing.
The complaint also references separate reports of similar public behavior at Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul on Aug. 4 and at a Target store in North St. Paul on Aug. 5.
Lee was arrested following the Aug. 5 incident at Target, according to the complaint. Police noted that he matched the general description provided in connection with the earlier Maplewood incidents.
According to the complaint, Lee spoke with police after being advised of his constitutional rights. He allegedly acknowledged engaging in inappropriate behavior inside the store but denied recently being at the parks and denied touching the bicyclist.
Police later showed the bicyclist a photo lineup. The complaint states he did not positively identify anyone but spent the most time looking at Lee's photograph and said Lee resembled the person who allegedly touched him, although he recalled a difference in the person's hair.
The complaint further alleges that location information obtained from Lee's phone placed the device at Harvest Park around the time of the alleged unwanted contact and at Keller Park around the time of the reported incident there.
Fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a gross misdemeanor under the charge filed in this case and carries a maximum possible sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. The indecent exposure charge is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum possible sentence of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
The charges are allegations. Lee is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.