Staff writer
Less than a month after receiving probation in a previous underage sex case, registered sex offender Cory Brunzell allegedly raped and sodomized a middle-school-age girl at his Hillsboro apartment, according to court documents obtained Tuesday.
Brunzell, 22, who moved to Clay Center after the incident, was in Marion County Jail Tuesday night.
He was arrested by Hillsboro police Jan. 11 on charges of rape and sodomy involving a child younger than 14. He also faces charges of contributing to a child’s misconduct and unlawfully hosting minors consuming beer or liquor.
The incidents allegedly occurred between May 2 and 9 at a party in his apartment in the 100 block of N. Jefferson St.
“It involved almost entirely all minors from the group he hung out with,” Hillsboro police sergeant Steven Janzen said. “People were just coming and going.”
Janzen said Brunzell had become acquainted with the victim through mutual friends.
Although Janzen said his investigation uncovered evidence of alcohol being consumed by Brunzell, the victim, and others, Janzen said he did not think the victim had been incapacitated.
Brunzell’s registration as a sex offender stemmed from an incident in September 2014 in which Brunzell initially was charged with online solicitation of a child between the ages of 14 and 16.
He pleaded guilty April 14 to amended charges of lewd and lascivious behavior and indecent exposure. He was sentenced to 12 months’ supervised probation and fined $1,158.
County Attorney Susan Robson said Brunzell’s probation included stipulations meant to deter him from having contact with the victim in the first case and with all girls younger than 18.
It restricted his Internet access and alcohol and drug consumption and required him to submit DNA for registration and to be evaluated for sex offender treatment.
His move to Clay Center was not part of his probation, sheriff’s investigator Wilma Mueller said.