Cloquet man accused of criminal sexual conduct

A Cloquet man was charged last week with seven counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly assaulting a juvenile.

Bradley Loren Owens, 40, was charged and appeared for a remote hearing in Sixth District Carlton County Court on May 11. He faces one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (sexual penetration), five counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (contact) with a juvenile under the age of 14, plus one count of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, the Cloquet Police Department received a mandated report from a Cloquet school district employee on May 8. A student had reported being touched inappropriately by an adult who was known to them. The student said similar things had happened over the previous two years.

The victim was forensically interviewed at First Witness in Duluth by a professional interviewer in a child-friendly environment. The juvenile shared graphic details of a number of alleged physical sexualized encounters with Owens, along with text messages.The criminal complaint alleged he shared a pornographic video of people having sex more than once and said “we should do this some time.”

Owens posted a non-cash bond of $300,000 on May 12. A no-contact order was issued the same day. His next court appearance is set for Monday, May 22.

Carlton County attorney Lauri Ketola is the lead prosecutor. Ketola previously told the Pine Knot that her office is prosecuting more criminal sexual abuse cases in Carlton County, partially as a result of a new “Safe and Strong Body” curriculum that First Witness has taught at elementary schools in various parts of the county.