Saginaw man charged with sexual assault of teen

A 44-year-old Saginaw man faces multiple felony charges following his alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl under his care earlier this summer.

Lane Lowell Smith surrendered to authorities Sept. 23, and was charged with three felony crimes, including two first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges and a third for soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. Smith faces a fourth gross misdemeanor charge for contributing to the delinquency of a child after allegedly providing the victim with alcohol and THC products prior to the assault.

The most severe penalties for the first-degree felonies call for up to 30 years in prison and up to a $40,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Sixth District Court in Carlton, the victim reported to authorities that she woke up wearing men’s pajamas in a massage room in the basement of Smith’s home on Gillogly Road in Carlton County.

Though she was “unable to recall many events” of the June 29 evening, the complaint said, she did describe how she was provided alcohol and THC products by Smith while they were in a sauna, later moving into the basement-level massage room.

She reported to a Carlton County investigator that as Smith massaged her, he started “grabbing her butt weird.” He later was kissing and touching her all over and even pushed her against a wall, she told authorities. After she woke, she was sore, had “throbbing” pain and reported having difficulty walking.

The next day the victim was dropped off by Smith at an event to meet her parents. The girl told her mother Smith had provided her with alcohol and THC-infused gummies and popcorn. The family brought her to St. Luke’s hospital in Duluth for a sexual assault nurse examiner investigation, the complaint said. The examiner reported to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office on June 30 that the girl had been seen for an examination.

The examination revealed a bruise on the victim. Analysis of blood and urine samples revealed the presence of THC, but swabs taken were not suitable for DNA testing, the complaint said.

The victim said she woke up in a dog bed. She did not know what happened to her clothing and suspected the pajama tops and bottoms belonged to Smith.

That following morning, the victim reported Smith verbalizing sexual acts and allegedly called her his sex “buddy,” telling her that events had been “amazing” and “awesome” and that “anyone would do anything for that,” the complaint said.

The victim said Smith solicited sex again, saying the victim “could have coffee creamer” if she would go back to the massage room. He later brought her back to her parents.

According to the complaint, it wasn’t unusual for Smith to have minors over to his house in order to use the sauna and massage room. He expressed a desire to be the “cool” adult, according to the complaint.

Prior to her visit on June 29, the victim engaged in a text conversation with Smith, in which he asked her to bring canned vodka drinks with her. The complaint indicates those were the drinks he later provided her.

In an interview with authorities, the victim’s father said the girl had previously trusted Smith, but now appeared scared of him. When Smith dropped her off, the father told authorities Smith “appeared unusual to him.” Smith admitted to the father to providing the victim with alcohol. When the father confronted Smith about the victim’s further allegations, Smith is alleged to have said he’d “be ruined if this comes out.”

Smith is being represented by Andrew Poole of Duluth.

Smith does not have a criminal record in Minnesota. He posted $10,000 cash, on a $100,000 bail, and was released from Carlton County Jail. He was ordered by Judge Amy Lukasavitz on Sept. 23 to not have contact with the victim. Smith’s last court appearance was Sept. 29, and it’s not yet clear when he is scheduled to appear again.