County Attorney Pete Orput today announced that James Edward Carter, 56, of Forest Lake, has been charged with three counts relating to sexual assault of two former juvenile students. Carter was charged with two of counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and one count of Fourth Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. The charges arose out of an investigation conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the complaint, law enforcement investigated reports of sexual abuse of two juvenile males. Both juvenile males reported that their former middle school teacher had sexually assaulted them on several occasions at his home. Carter would employ his students and former students to perform work at his home and provide gifts to them.
Orput took this opportunity to commend the juvenile males for having the courage to come forward. Orput stated, “Protecting children is our greatest priority. The defendant wholly abused his position of authority as a teacher and trusted adult to these young boys. This abuse and breach of trust erodes the very foundation of our education system and will never be tolerated.”
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