No charges filed against University of Minnesota wrestlers following criminal sexual assault investigation

Members of the University of Minnesota wrestling team have not been charged in a criminal sexual assault investigation that began in June 2019, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced at a news conference Friday.

Following events that occurred on June 15 involving University of Minnesota Wrestling team members, the Minneapolis Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit undertook a thorough and complete investigation. The case was reviewed by two veteran prosecutors of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office who specialize in sexual assault cases as well as senior leadership of this office.

After extensive review, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office did not file any charges in the case.

“Sex assault crimes are always very difficult to prove to the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt required in criminal court. There are often conflicting versions of what happened; this case is no exception. In the interest of justice, and putting it simply, there was inadequate evidence to fairly charge and prosecute this case,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said at the news conference Friday.

Freeman continued, saying that given Minnesota’s current laws regarding intoxication and a victim’s ability to give consent, the office was restricted in how they could charge the case.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and others have pushed the legislature to adopt something similar to Wisconsin’s intoxication law.