Rochester Man Accused of Assaulting Child With Belt

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester man was arrested and is being held on charges of malicious punishment of a child Tuesday after police say he hit a teenage girl with a belt more than a dozen times.

The police liaison officer at Mayo High School became aware Tuesday.

38-year-old Steve Johnson was arrested at his place of employment in Dodge County after the 14-year-old girl told the officer she went to her grandmother’s house after school Monday and dozed off. She says Johnson showed up a few hours later, came into the bedroom where she was sleeping and began hitting her with his belt. The teen said she was hit 14 times before he stopped. He then drove her home.

The teen said Johnson was upset because she took her phone to school after he told her not to.

News update: A significant meth bust in Rochester.