Repeat Sex Offender Convicted on Sexual Assault of Autistic Child in Woodbury

In July of 2024 Woodbury police investigated an allegation of a sexual assault on a 16 year old child. The suspect was Lawson Tolentine Waples Ward, DOB 1/3/1980, of St. Paul. 

Police arrived to the extended stay in Woodbury to where the mother of the child explained her autistic child with a mental capacity of a six or seven year old was sexually assaulted by Ward. In the police report she stated she had been in a relationship for ten years with him

and had recently broke up. Ward would still hang out with the child because he was seen as a father figure to the child. The day of the incident the child reported to police that Ward made him do "weird things" and Ward "showed his dick" and had the child touch it according to the police report. The victim also said that Ward kissed on the lips and their chest and gave alcohol to drink. Also in the police report, it said Ward was a convicted sex offender in New Jersey. 

Police wrote it up as sexual assault on a victim mentally impaired and giving alcohol to a minor. In 2026 Ward was convicted of Criminal sexual conduct 3rd and 4rth degree. His sentence was 15 years in prison, life registration as a sex offender, and $140 fine, plus additional requirements. 

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Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like 47 other states. All but MN, DC, and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to over 20,000 in MN. 26 states register sex offenders for life, MN lists most sex offenders to 10 years max.

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DEFENDANT: Lawson Tolentine Waples Ward 

DOB: 1/3/1980 

CITY/RESIDENCE: Saint Paul, MN 

AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

JUDGE: Juanita C. Freeman 

COURT NUMBER: 82-CR-24-2660 

CONVICTION: Count 1: Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree. Count 2: Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree 

SENTENCE: Count 1: Commit to Commissioner of Corrections for 180 months with 243 days credited; $140 fine with surcharge and fees payable by 06/24/2027; predatory offender registration required, life; supply DNA sample; do not ship/transport/possess or receive firearm or ammo. Count 2: No sentence pronounced.