Crosby man pleads guilty to sexually abusing two girls

ST. PAUL - A 50-year-old Crosby man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to abusive sexual contact with girls.

Fabian Fransisco Spears was scheduled to begin his jury trial on Tuesday but instead he appeared in front of U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul and pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact.

In 2006, Spears was visiting his family on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and during the visit he sexually abused the two girls.

In his plea agreement, Spears admitted that from April 2006 through October 2006 he engaged in sexual contact with the two girls, both of whom were under the age of 12. Spears admitted he had abusive sexual contact with the girls on more than one occasion.

For his crimes, Spears faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. Judge Frank will determine his sentence at a future date, yet to be scheduled.

The federal government has primary law enforcement jurisdiction over the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The case is the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tricia A. Tingle.

In 1995, Spears was convicted of felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ramsey County District Court and sentenced to 120 days jail and 25 years supervised probation.

He also was wanted on a warrant dated Jan. 15 from Goodhue County for violating probation on a charge of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault.