Wrenshall man charged with felony sex assault by a psychotherapist

A Wrenshall resident who worked as a social worker for St. Louis County has been accused of rape and sexual abuse of a woman who was his client.

Licensed social worker Michael Bryant, 46, was charged July 15 with third-degree criminal sexual conduct by a psychotherapist both during and outside of session; both charges are felonies.

According to the criminal complaint, in February Duluth police received a report of ongoing sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult by her social worker, Bryant, who was supposed to provide ongoing counseling services as part of his oversight of the woman and her children.

The woman was also receiving therapeutic care through North Homes; it was that therapist who suspected the alleged abuse and reported her suspicions to St. Louis County.

In a statement to Fox 21 News last week, St. Louis County called the allegations “deeply concerning” and stated that the county has fully cooperated with the criminal investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim said the sexual relationship with Bryant had been going on for more than a year, and that Bryant had allegedly told her that if she didn’t have sex or reported the relationship, he would take her children away and ruin her life. The victim told the investigator the relationship started as consensual but became more forceful and Bryant would make her strip naked and beg for forgiveness on her knees, estimating that they had sex more than 50 times. She also claimed that he would dictate to her how she should wear her hair and makeup and how she should dress her 11-year-old daughter. She said he would allegedly call and text her at all times of the day but broke her phone at one point out of concern that the relationship would be discovered.

Bryant was taken off her case in early 2019. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Duluth on Aug. 14.