A former Wells man facing 16 felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor appeared in Faribault County District Court on Monday.
Michael Allen Swanson, 54, who now lives in North Mankato, has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 16.
Faribault County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation last June after being contacted by Faribault and Martin County Human Services of an alleged assault of a minor.
While being interviewed by deputy Mark Purvis, the victim says she moved in with Swanson, his wife and minor children in the spring of 2017 and he began assaulting her when she was 13 or 14 years old.
The girl says the assaults occurred numerous times at various locations, but most were at the Swansons’ home in Wells.
She told investigators the sexual assaults occurred at least seven times a week while living with the family when she was 14 to 17 years of age. She estimates more than 500 assaults occurred and that some were at Swanson’s farm bin site and in his farm truck close to the family home.
According to a criminal complaint, the girl first met Swanson when she was in third grade and he was her basketball coach.
In the Spring of 2017, the girl turned 13 years of age and was experiencing difficult times in her home life, says the complaint.
At the time, she was participating in confirmation classes and Swanson was appointed to be her mentor. After telling Swanson of her problems at home he invited her to move in with his family.
The complaint says the girl went to live with her grandmother in June 2017 and that Swanson picked her up the following month and brought her to his family’s home.
She told investigators that Swanson was drinking and believed he was intoxicated. He took the girl to a parked car near his house, says the complaint, where he kissed and groped her.
The girl says she was invited to go on a family vacation to Montana in August 2017 and Swanson reportedly assaulted her, but he became angry when she refused to have sex with him.
After returning from Montana, the girl went to live with Swanson and his family with short interruptions until she was 19 years old.
The complaint says that during this time Swanson would sit with her on the family room sofa until all other family members went to sleep. When he was alone with the girl he sexually assault her.
In June 2018, Swanson reportedly took the 14-year-old girl to an overnight trip to the Twin Cities and he gave her alcohol until she passed out. She says when she woke up Swanson was having sex with her.
By November 2018, Swanson and his wife obtained permanent sole legal and physical custody of the girl.
At times she went to live with grandparents and her father for a short period, once because Swanson’s wife became suspicious of his relationship with the girl.
According to court documents, Swanson would drive to the girl’s temporary residences to pick her up to engage in sex acts that occurred inside and outside of Faribault County.
Swanson’s next court appearance is a contested omnibus hearing scheduled Dec. 18 before Judge Troy Timmerman.