Clarion man pleads not guilty to sexual abuse charge

CLARION — A Clarion man has pleaded not guilty to a sexual abuse charge.

39-year-old Justin Askvig is accused of sexually assaulting a victim at his home on September 3rd. A criminal complaint states Askvig assaulted the victim with the intent to inflict serious injury, as well as tried to strangle her and rammed her head into the side of a car. The victim told authorities that her neck was sore for almost a week.

Askvig was charged with second-degree sexual abuse and was due in court for his arraignment hearing on Wednesday but recently filed a written plea of not guilty in Wright County District Court. His trial is scheduled to start on December 12th.

Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.