Sex assault charge dropped against Barnum caregiver

CARLTON — Charges have been dropped against a Barnum personal care attendant who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a vulnerable adult.

The Carlton County Attorney’s Office cited “prosecutorial discretion” in dismissing the first-degree criminal sexual conduct case against Jasmine Melissa Collins, now 19.

“From the very first conversation I had with Ms. Collins, I knew she was innocent of the charge,” defense attorney Kevin Cornwell said. “The state should have exercised more restraint in its charging decision, especially given the stigma that comes with this type of charge.”

Court documents said the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case in March after the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center received a report regarding the alleged victim, who is physically disabled and nonverbal but can communicate through movements.

The complaint, filed in June, alleged that Collins was “very rough” while providing care and had hit the woman with an open hand. The vulnerable adult described being fearful, but there were no witnesses to the incidents.

The most serious allegation was that Collins had touched the woman’s intimate parts without any legitimate care purpose and sexually assaulted her with a bathroom object later determined to be a curling iron.

The complaint also said the victim’s mother told investigators her daughter was increasingly anxious and would scream when Collins visited their home. And authorities cited a forensic medical examination in which a doctor noted signs of physical and sexual abuse.

Collins was interviewed at the time and acknowledged that she was employed to provide showering and toileting needs for the victim, but denied ever hitting or inappropriately touching her.

A conviction on the charge would have carried a presumptive sentence of 12 years in prison as a first-time offender. She was also charged with a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree assault.

Cornwell said DNA testing and a polygraph test ultimately exonerated his client, but “unfortunately, damage to Ms. Collins’ reputation had already been done when the original charges were reported by various news outlets.”

“Had the state waited until the DNA evidence came back showing her DNA was not on the item, she would not have been dragged through this nightmare,” the defense attorney said. “The fact that she also passed a polygraph is just further proof that she was wrongfully charged.”

Carlton County Attorney Lauri Ketola issued a brief statement in response to an inquiry.

“After further investigation, I did not feel there was sufficient evidence to proceed,” she said.