Employee sexually abused assisted living resident while living at St. Ann's

DULUTH — An investigation confirmed an employee living at St. Ann’s Residence sexually abused a female resident, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

St. Ann’s Residence is a nonprofit assisted living facility located at 330 E. Third St. There were 51 residents receiving services at the time of the complaint.

The claim of sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult was reported to the Minnesota Department of Health after a St. Ann's resident told two licensed health care professionals she was having sex with an employee. The facility reportedly conducted an internal investigation and MDH conducted its investigation Dec. 18.

Minnesota Department of Health special investigator Michele Larson determined that a male employee sexually abused a female resident up to five times inside his residence at St. Ann’s.

The accused employee, who was hired four months before moving in as an independent resident on the lower level of St. Ann’s, was reportedly trained on maintaining professional boundaries with residents and vulnerable adults.

During the investigation, the accused employee denied having sex with the resident and stated she only entered his apartment once to watch a television show with the door wide open the entire time.

However, the report said the facility’s time-stamped video footage captured five separate occasions in which the victim entered the employee's apartment in the early morning hours, either accompanied by the employee or after he let her in.

The resident told leadership she and the employee had sex one time in his room and stated that it was “consensual,” according to the report. She told investigators they would often see each other after he returned home from the bars, and that “he gave me a beer and seduced me.”

The employee told investigators the resident was “crazy” and “dangerous.”

Leadership told investigators the resident resided at a battered women’s shelter before moving into an assisted living facility on the main floor of St. Ann’s. Her diagnosis included bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. The resident used a cane and walker for mobility and received assistance with medication.

The Department of Health issued a correction order to St. Ann’s Residence. The alleged perpetrator was notified of his right to appeal the maltreatment finding.

It is unknown if criminal charges are associated with this case. The News Tribune did not immediately receive a response from the Duluth Police Department about possible charges.