RED WING — The former manager of the McDonald's restaurant in Red Wing has pleaded not guilty to three charges alleging that she sexually assaulted two juvenile employees while at work.
Kimberly Noel Voelker, 44, entered not guilty pleas on June 21 in Goodhue County District Court to two felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct-position of authority and one gross misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct-nonconsensual contact.
Judge Lawrence Clark has scheduled a Sept. 16 jury trial for the Hastings woman. Voelker faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted.
According to the criminal complaint, Voelker made unwanted sexual advances toward two teenage boys from late spring until September 2012. The complaint lists at least six incidents of inappropriate touching, as well as various lewd comments and actions.
The juveniles did not initially report the incidents, but one eventually told a family member. Written complaints were filed by both juveniles at McDonald's on Sept. 8 and Voelker was suspended that day, according to the complaint.
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According to the complaint, Voelker told police in an interview that she didn't remember all of the alleged acts but admitted to some of them and said that the boys were probably being truthful because "they're good kids." Restaurant surveillance video appears to confirm some of the boys' allegations, the complaint says.
The restaurant is owned by Onalaska, Wis.-based Courtesy Corp., which operates 51 restaurants in the Midwest, including Rochester, Byron, Austin and Albert Lea. A company official said Jan. 31, shortly after the complaint was filed, that Voelker was no longer employed with the company.
