---

Former Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan entered a guilty plea November 7 to one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct and a total of three other counts of third and fourth degree offenses will be dismissed.  District Court Judge Jesse Seabrooks accepted the plea and set sentencing for February 16, 2024.

The one time sheriff, under terms of the agreement, which is not final until sentencing, agrees to 15 years of probation and  remaining law abiding. Possession of firearms is not allowed and he will register as a sex offender.  He may be allowed to do work release or participate in Sentence to Serve under the judge’s direction.  Duncan will pay restitution to the female victim, in an amount yet to be determined.

The offenses happened in Chisago County in the April-May-June 2017 timeframe and involved coercion and a relative of Duncan’s.  This is in addition to another case involving the sheriff while he worked for the county, and a female crime analyst employed in his department.  She eventually saw Duncan adjudicated guilty of harassment and he was forced to “retire.”  She also prevailed in state court in a civil human rights complaint against her former boss. 

---