Officer Who Shot Self Accused Of Criminal Sexual Conduct With Minors

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Authorities in Olmsted County say a Kasson police officer, who shot himself in early June, is accused of criminal sexual conduct beginning in 1992

On June 2, Kasson Police Offier Julio Baez, 51, was discovered with self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was taken to an area hospital and treated for his injuries.

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office says it learned two days later of potential criminal activity by Baez. He's accused of criminal sexual conduct occurring many years with multiple victims, beginning in 1992 and occurring in various counties, including Olmsted and Dodge counties.

The sheriff's office says it believes there was only one incident of domestic abuse that occurred while Baez was working in an official capacity at the Kasson Police Department, believed to be in 2004.

Baez, who was released from the hospital on June 19, was taken into custody by police on probable case that evening in Winona.

On Thursday, Baez was charged with two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old and one felony county of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The charges involved criminal sexual conduct with minors, who had a close relationship with Baez.

Baez is being held on $1 million bail without conditions and $500,000 with conditions. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for each of his first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, and up to 15 years on the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

The investigation remains active.