Authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of a St. Paul man who police say lured a female co-worker to his apartment and attempted to rape her Thursday.
Michael Leroy Deyo, 53, was charged Tuesday with two counts of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of terroristic threats, and one count of false imprisonment.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court: Deyo invited a 25-year-old co-worker to a barbecue at his apartment. They had worked at the same Goodwill store since Deyo was hired in June.
When the young woman arrived, no one else was at Deyo’s apartment, but he assured her it was “going to be a surprise party.”
When she felt uncomfortable and tried to leave, Deyo dragged her back into the apartment. They fought, and Deyo threatened to kill her if she made noise and didn’t let him have sex with her.
When a man in the building heard screams and knocked on the door, the woman pushed Deyo off her and fled the building.
Deyo was gone by the time police obtained a search warrant for his apartment. He is reported to have fled to Mexico in the past, and his family told police that he has disappeared for up to 10 years in the past without contacting them.
Deyo was convicted for third-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1983, false imprisonment in 1988 and possession of child pornography in 2004, charges said.