A River Falls resident has been charged with sexually assaulting a female family member.

Jose Ramon Xolo Chapan, 48, was ordered to pay $2,500 cash bond Dec. 22 in Pierce County Circuit Court on a felony second-degree sexual assault/use of force charge. The maximum penalty if convicted is up to 40 years in prison and/or fines up to $100,000. He remains in Pierce County Jail.

According to the complaint:

Chapan was sharing a mobile home at 1450 S. Wasson Lane #33 with several people, including distant family members originally from Mexico. At about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Chapan returned to the mobile home after working at Kinni Café.

The female heard Chapan come home from work; she was in her room and her father was asleep on the couch in the living room. About 10 minutes later, Chapan came into her room and shut the door. She said she wasn’t afraid of him because she considers him family. After a conversation, Chapan went to hug the female, but when she tried to keep him at a distance, pulled her against him. He then sexually assaulted her in a chair and told her not to scream.

After the assault, she and her father fled to a family member’s home in another Wisconsin city. Police were able to collect DNA evidence from the female and her clothing.

Chapan is scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. Jan. 19 for a preliminary hearing.