Graduate student faces charges of sexual molestation

Ramsey County prosecutors charged a University graduate student Wednesday with second-degree criminal sexual molestation for assaulting his daughter, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court.

Yaliang Jin, a resident of Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative on the St. Paul Campus, allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with his 8-year-old daughter at his apartment, according to the complaint.

University Police arrested Jin on Monday after conducting a week-long investigation into the alleged incidents of sexual molestation, said University Police Sgt. Jo Anne Benson.

Ramsey County Child Protection officials alerted investigators to incidents of possible molestation at Jin's residence on April 16, Benson said.

She would not discuss the specific nature of the molestation, but said Jin allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with his daughter. Benson said investigators do not believe penetration occurred during the molestation, however.

"We are working with Ramsey County Child Protection on this case," Benson said.

She said the molestation allegedly occurred on "more than one occasion" in Jin's apartment.

The graduate student did not return phone calls on Wednesday.

Jin was released from St. Paul Police custody Wednesday afternoon, Ramsey County Jail officials said. A court date is pending.

A woman who answered the phone at Jin's residence on Wednesday declined to comment on the graduate student's arrest, but said the student has retained an attorney.

Jin lives with his fianc‚ and the 8-year-old girl, a daughter from a previous marriage, Benson said.

The Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative, a housing unit for University students and their families, is located at the southern end of the St. Paul Campus.