Chisago County has agreed to a $7.5 million settlement with a woman who was sexually assaulted by former Sheriff Richard Duncan.
It stems from a blackmailing scheme in 2017 that 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has covered extensively.
In the case, prosecutors said Duncan’s office was investigating a sexual assault case when Duncan claimed a blackmailer left letters in his mailbox demanding that the victim engage in sexual conduct. He later admitted to writing the letters to coerce the woman into having sex with him.
Duncan was initially charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct but pleaded down to one of the charges to serve six months in jail and 15 years of probation.
After the victim sued, a court determined the county was liable for Duncan’s actions because his conduct was under the color of the law, a ruling the county said it “strongly disagreed with.”
As part of the settlement, which was negotiated by both the county and the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, the victim will drop her lawsuit against the county.
Duncan resigned as sheriff in 2018 and is required to register as a sex offender. He was charged with violating his restraining order last year.
