Charges dropped in sexual assault case

Talk about it

Felony criminal charges against Wade Michael Sell, 45, of Cromwell have been dismissed by the Carlton County Attorney’s office, according to Assistant County Attorney Michael Boese.

Sell, who was scheduled for a jury trial beginning Dec. 10, faced seven counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor after Carlton County Sheriff’s deputies responded last September to a report of a possible sexual assault having occurred in the county. At that time, investigators learned that an alleged victim had disclosed having been sexually abused by Sell multiple times over a three- to four-year period, beginning in 2007 when the victim was approximately 10 years old.

“Our lead witness/victim came to have serious credibility issues,” stated Boese on Wednesday in response to a query from the Pine Journal. “A few instances happened in the past few months that led to it becoming a real question whether her assertions ever really happened. “

Boese stated a CHIPS (child in need of protection or services) petition still exists in the case and added he is not certain at this point what direction Assistant County Attorney Jesse Berglund will decide to go with it. He said the victim is still a minor and currently resides in southern Minnesota with relatives. Sell has reportedly relocated to Hibbing.

Boese called the entire case a “very sad thing indeed.”

Tags: carlton county, news, crime