Former Chisago Co. Sheriff Rick Duncan charged with criminal sexual conduct
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Former Chisago County Sheriff Richard Duncan faces charges of criminal sexual conduct stemming from multiple incidents that allegedly occurred in 2017, according to court records.
Duncan previously pleaded guilty to a harassment charge. He was given a stayed jail sentence of two years and four years’ probation.
According to the criminal complaint, Duncan has been charged with two counts of 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of 4th-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The complaint states in May 2021, law enforcement began investigating a prior sexual assault case that occurred between April and June of 2017. Duncan knew the victim and contacted the victim about an alleged “black mailer” leaving letters in Duncan’s mailbox, the complaint notes, also stating the “defendant was in uniform.”
Richard Duncan
Duncan allegedly contacted the victim multiple times after that and on multiple occasions, claiming the “black mailer” had sent “demand letters” directing the victim to engage in sexual conduct.
One of the supposed “demand letters” from the “black mailer” allegedly directed the victim to “perform a series of tasks on the route” to a resort hosting a Sheriff’s conference that occurred in June 2017 in Crow Wing County.
“Victim stated throughout the time period of receiving demand letters she was scared and fearful that her family may be harmed or even killed,” the complaint notes.
The complaint says Duncan declined to provide law enforcement with a statement while investigating the accusations.
The Wyoming Police Department, which investigated the case, said in a statement that it “hopes that this next step in the process will start to bring healing and resolution to the victim and her family.”
The Chisago County Attorney’s Office has handed the case over to Crow Wing County due to conflict-of-interest concerns. The Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they expect Duncan in court Nov. 28.
The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the case. Efforts to reach Duncan by phone Friday were unsuccessful. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the attorney who represented Duncan in a lawsuit this past spring, he declined to comment at this time.