Sex assault charges in St. Paul girl's abduction

Authorities are investigating the possibility that a Spring Lake Park man charged Wednesday with kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl may have other victims.

There is some "indication" but no conclusive evidence that John C. Heuer, 48, could have other victims, a situation that is complicated by the fact he is a long-distance truck driver, said Cmdr. Paul Sommer, spokesman for the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. Authorities declined to elaborate on what information raises suspicion.

"We're not shopping for victims," said sheriff's detective Michael Lapham, Anoka County's lead investigator on the case, but, "We want to cover our bases."

In addition to Heuer's home and personal truck, authorities also searched the semitrailer that he drove to Fargo, N.D., as a truck driver. Lapham said authorities don't believe anything occurred in it but wanted to be thorough. Heuer has been driving a fixed route from the Twin Cities to Fargo for the past eight months with his most recent employer.

Heuer was charged in Anoka County District Court with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping in an abduction from a St. Paul laundromat Sunday evening. The crime triggered an Amber Alert and intensive joint investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff's Office and Spring Lake Park and St. Paul police.

The girl escaped Heuer's home that night.

According to charges: Heuer told police that the girl was a prostitute and that he negotiated with and paid her mother $100 for the child's sexual services. The mother denied that account.

Heuer had spent much of Sunday afternoon drinking at the Lamplighter Lounge, a bar and strip club located next door to the Giant Wash Coin Laundry in the 1600 block of Rice Street at Larpenteur Avenue. He approached the victim and her older sister at the laundromat and told them they were pretty, according to the complaint. He returned a short time later and lured the girl away by saying he would show her his puppy. The abduction was reported about 6:40 p.m. after the sister alerted their mother.

According to the charges, Heuer took the girl to his home, where they kissed, had oral sex and fondled each other.

"The defendant said his 'DNA' would be all over the child," the complaint said.

Authorities said the girl distracted Heuer and fled as he turned to go to the bathroom not wearing any pants. Neighbors found the girl wandering alone outside about 7:20 p.m. and called police.

"The defendant said he saw her outside talking to people from across the street but that he didn't go to her or try to get her back in the house," according to the complaint.

Heuer was arrested about 6:30 p.m. Monday at his townhouse in the 500 block of 78th Avenue NE. He was found hiding under a vehicle in the garage.

Authorities said the girl's escape was critical in finding Heuer, whose criminal record is relatively minor with two drunken driving convictions.

"Had the girl not had the fortitude to run off ... he would've been off our radar," Sommer said.

The child provided detailed descriptions of the suspect's car and home, and when driven past them, pointed out the row of townhouses where the assault allegedly occurred. She also picked out Heuer in a six-person lineup.

Heuer was not at his Wednesday morning court hearing because he was taken to a hospital Tuesday for a medical issue. Sommer said it was not a suicide attempt but declined further comment.

Heuer was back in jail later Wednesday, and is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing Thursday morning.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708 Twitter: @ChaoStrib