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Former Vikings player charged with 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct in Arctic Blast incidentBy Dawn Slade Ted Brown, a former Minnesota Vikings player, has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct. He was charged Friday, Dec. 19, in Mille Lacs County District Court after a grand jury indicted him. He was released that same day after posting $25,000 conditional bail. Investigations have been completed in the two separate alleged sexual assaults which occurred at Eddy's Resort on Lake Mille Lacs during the Vikings' annual Arctic Blast event last Feb. 2. Eddy's Resort had been completely reserved for members of the Vikings organization and its Children's Fund staff. Mille Lacs County Attorney Jan Kolb gave a statement announcing the indictment during a press conference at the courthouse Friday. Until Friday's press conference, the county attorney's office and sheriff's office had been unable to comment on the grand jury proceedings. In her statement Kolb said that nearly 100 people had been interviewed by county investigators David Klein and Jason LaSart, under the guidance of sheriff Brent Lindgren. Two grand juries were convened to address each sexual assault. While the case involving Brown will proceed in court, the county attorney's office said there is not enough evidence in the first reported sexual assault case to proceed any further. Kolb said that while there was a sense that a sexual assault did occur, the identity of the person was the problem. On Nov. 25 the grand jury for the assault that was reported on Tuesday, Feb. 4, returned with the indictment against Brown. The jury charged Brown with one count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. Assistant County Attorney Wade Kish answered questions from the media. Kish confirmed that Brown's attorney, Steve Meshbesher, reported that Brown admits to having consensual sex with the woman who accused him of rape. However, Kish said, the reason the grand jury chose to indict Brown with first- degree criminal sexual assault was, among other things, the fact that the incident allegedly occurred while the victim was in a state of physical helplessness and unable to give consent. The woman reported she had taken a shuttle bus from the Blue Goose bar/restaurant in Garrison to Eddy's Resort north of Onamia. The woman admitted she was intoxicated, that she was feeling ill and that someone brought her to a motel room where she vomited in the bathroom and then lay down on a bed. When she awoke, she found an unidentified man on top of her in a dark room. She also reported that her clothes had been removed and that she had been sexually assaulted. The woman reported the assault on Tuesday, Feb. 4, after seeking treatment at the Hennepin County Medical Center. Kish would not comment on whether or not the victim had been drugged. Kish said he spoke with the victim following the grand jury's decision and reported that while she was pleased with the charges, the process isn't over for her yet. As for former Vikings player Todd Bouman, whose attorney said he was identified as a suspect several months ago, it appears he is no longer a suspect. Kish's only comment was that no indictment would be coming in the other case. Brown's next appearance in Mille Lacs County District Court is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20. Princeton Union-Eagle |