MANKATO — A Mankato man is accused of threatening a woman with an ax.
Joseph Lee Marlin, 40, faces felonies for second-degree assault and threats of violence, a gross misdemeanor for attempted criminal sexual conduct and a misdemeanor for domestic assault in Blue Earth County District Court.
A criminal complaint states a woman told police Marlin made threats while swinging the ax toward her on Jan. 24. The woman called a friend for assistance, who called 911.
At one point, according to the complaint, the woman went into the bathroom to get away from him. He reportedly forced his way in and again threated her with the ax.
The woman reported he then threw her on a bed and attempted to sexually assault her as she resisted.
Marlin denied threatening the woman or physically touching her, the complaint states. He confirmed he did own an ax.
Police used a search warrant and reported finding an ax matching what the woman described.
Marlin’s initial appearance in court is set for Feb. 8.