An Austin man who pleaded guilty to felony arson and criminal sexual conduct charges in Mower County District Court has been sentenced to concurrent prison sentences.   

Slavan Anderson

63-year old James Edward Slavan was arrested in July 2018 for groping a child under the age of 13. He was arrested again in August 2019 after setting fire to a home in the 1200 block of 3rd Avenue NW in Austin. Police reported that there were two people inside the residence at the time. One of them told investigators that Slavan, their landlord, had drunkenly threatened to burn down the house before.

Slavan pleaded guilty to a felony charge of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to four years in prison, with credit for 317 days already served, followed by 99 years of conditional release. He also pleaded guilty to a felony 1st degree arson charge, and was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, with credit for 316 days already served. Slavan will serve the two sentences concurrently.

Austin Police also arrested Slavan’s girlfriend, 53-year old Susan Marie Anderson of Austin for kicking in the door and attacking someone at the same residence Slavan attempted to burn down. Anderson pleaded not guilty to two counts of 1st degree burglary, 5th degree assault, and obstructing the legal process.

No trial date has been scheduled in her case.