Minneapolis police officer charged with sex abuse
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting teen girls he met on social media sites, including one girl described as mentally or physically impaired.
Thirty-two-year-old Bradley James Schnickel was charged Friday with three counts of attempted or actual third-degree sexual conduct and three counts of engaging in sexually explicit online chats with a minor. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 46½ years.
Anoka County prosecutors say Schnickel had online chats with four girls who were 13 or 14, in which he described wanting to engage in sexual activity. The criminal complaint says he had physical contact with some of them.
A phone message left with his defense attorney was not immediately returned.
The Minneapolis Police Department has placed Schnickel, a five-year veteran, on administrative leave.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
