MILACA, Minn. (WCCO) – A 29-year-old sheriff’s deputy in Mille Lacs County is accused of having inappropriate sexual conduct with four boys last month.
Aaron Joseph Heuer, of Isle, Minn., faces a total of four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and another four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension cited incidents at two locations last month. Investigators say that Heuer was working at the Lutheran Island Camp in Henning, Minn. as a fishing guide and that’s where he allegedly molested the victims, who were all between the ages of 8 and 10.
According to the criminal complaint, Heuer coerced them into engaging in sexual activity while they were out in a boat on fishing trips. Court papers said a counselor met with the boys separately, and they each gave the same story — that Heuer would touch them inappropriately and make them touch him sexually. If the boys didn’t submit to this act, Heuer would push them out of the boat, said one of the boys.
These incidents happened over the course of a number of days, the complaint said.
“We’re deeply saddened that any of the children here at our camp would be hurt by someone in a position of trust,” said the camp’s Chairman of the Board Schan Sorkness.
Sorkness said he’s not sure at this point “if” or “how many” other victims there may be.
The BCA said that further incidents allegedly happened to two of the victims on separate fishing trips in Aitkin County, unrelated to the camp.
Heuer was placed on administrative leave by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, where he has worked for six years.
