A Minnesota entertainer known by his stage names 'Friendly' the clown and Bob the Balloon Twister has been charged with repeatedly raping a mentally impaired woman while she was staying with him and his wife.
Robert Jensen, 57, has spent the past 20 years working as a freelance circus performer...
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An online ad promoting his services touted Jensen as 'the complete package,' available years round for parties and events featuring balloon twists, cheek painting, comedy magic and clown music.
'Friendly the clown is a family friendly clown,' the ad copy declared. 'He goes out of his way not to be scary. No adult themes.'
But a criminal complaint filed against Jensen earlier this month paints a far more sinister picture of the veteran children's entertainer.
According to court documents, Robert Jensen, who is married, sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman suffering from a traumatic brain jury while she was a guest at his home.
The complaint, obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, states that the alleged victim, described as a 'vulnerable adult with mental health difficulties,' moved in with Robert and Peggy Ann Jensen in December 2014.
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During a sexual assault exam at a hospital, the woman told a nurse that the first attack took place January 29 and started with a hug.
After the assault, the woman went to bed but was awakened at 5am by a naked Jensen, who allegedly proceeded to fondle her, according to the Princeton Union Eagle.
She went back to sleep, but at 9am the 57-year-old man returned to her room and allegedly raped her.
During an interview with police, the 20-year-old alleged victim told an officer that Jensen said to her during one of their encounters that 'he was praying for a little girl like her to come around and mess around,' the court papers stated.
On the advice of a relative, the brain injury patient complained to Jensen's wife's, Peggy Ann Jensen, about her husband’s conduct, but when the woman confronted her spouse, he denied the allegations.
Robert Jensen refused to speak to police about the woman's claims, prompting them to obtain a warrant for a DNA swab of his mouth.
The sample collected from Jensen ultimately proved to be a match to the semen found on the victim's body.
Robert Jensen was arrested May 8 on a laundry-list of charges, including multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct with a victim mentally impaired or helpless and criminal sexual conduct with force or coercion.