Jury Clears Minnesota Trooper Of One Child Sex Charge
Hastings, MN (KROC AM News) - A Minnesota State Patrol officer accused of sexually abusing a teenager has been cleared of one charge but a jury could not reach a decision on another.
A trial for 38-year-old Shawn Barta began Monday in Dakota County Court.
It ended Thursday when court records show the jury acquitted the Burnsville man of 1st-degree criminal conduct. No decision was reached on a 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.
There was no announcement from the Dakota County Attorney’s office on whether the trooper will be retried on the second count.
Barta was charged in July 2019 with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl for more than a year. According to the criminal complaint, the abuse - which included penetration - began in April 2018. The girl told investigators Barta also showed her pornographic videos “so that she would know what to do.”
Barta was placed on administrative leave.