Man Charged With Providing Drugs to Child, Raping Her

By Mark Stodghill, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.

Mar. 9–A Rice Lake Township man has been charged with several sex and drug crimes after a Duluth pre-teen girl told authorities that he gave her marijuana and methamphetamine before raping her. Bradley John Abrahamson, 31, of 5913 Howard Gnesen Road, is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, possession of substances with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, exposing another to methamphetamine activity and endangerment of a child. The girl told a friend of the alleged assault. The friend told her father, who contacted Duluth police on Jan. 11. The child told a St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office investigator that Abrahamson offered her marijuana to try and allowed her to try methamphetamine before she was sexually assaulted. When reached by the News Tribune on Wednesday, Abrahamson denied giving the girl drugs. He said he wanted to talk to an attorney before commenting further. The girl said Abrahamson would make her watch “dirty movies.” He forced her to perform sexual acts and he performed sexual acts, the criminal complaint alleges. Abrahamson was interviewed by a sheriff’s investigator. He admitted performing sex acts on the girl, according to the complaint. He told the investigator he had a problem that he would like to “do something about.” The defendant admitted to the investigator that he used meth and marijuana in the child’s presence, but denied giving her drugs, according to the complaint. A search warrant was executed at Abrahamson’s residence. Officers found marijuana plants, what appeared to be meth manufacturing material, pornographic video tapes and pornographic magazines. The guideline sentence for the most serious crime Abrahamson is accused of is 7 years, 2 months in prison. The defendant is free on $7,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 20. MARK STODGHILL reports on legal affairs and public safety. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 723-5333 or by e-mail at mstodghill@duluthnews.com.

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