December 14, 2009 2:36 PM CST
Aaron Biber charged with criminal sexual conduct involving minor
by Patrick Thornton Reporter/ special sections editor
Prominent Minnesota attorney Aaron Biber, a former Hennepin County Bar Association president and the treasurer of the Minnesota State Bar Association, was charged Monday with two counts of criminal sexual conduct involving alleged sexual relations with a 15-year-old boy.
A criminal complaint filed Monday by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office alleges that last October Biber gave liquor to and had a sexual encounter with the boy at Biber’s Shorewood home. According to the complaint, Biber, 46, has known the boy for four years. Biber is also accused of sending highly graphic and sexual text messages to the boy after the alleged encounter.
"This is a tragic and grossly innappropriate situation," said Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman at a Dec. 14 press conference on the charges.
Biber will make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon on one charge of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and one charge of solicitation of a child in sexual conduct. Both charges are felonies.
The alleged sexual conduct was reported to the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department by a confidential source within the last two weeks. The police taped a phone call between Biber and the boy on Friday, Dec. 11. During the call, Biber allegedly arranged to meet the boy at the Eden Prairie Mall to perform a sex act. He was arrested en route to the meeting.
Freeman said evidence supports Biber made additional sexual solicitations to the boy.
Biber is a principal at Minneapolis law firm Gray Plant Mooty. He has been placed on leave and is not practicing law with the firm. Tamara Hjelle Olsen, the manager officer and chair of the board at Gray Plant Mooty issued a brief statement Monday.
"We are deeply saddened by this completely unexpected news, and are ensuring that the clients Mr. Biber has served are being well taken care of by other lawyers at our firm. We are also caring for our employees, who, like our entire legal community, are confused and disturbed by this news. We trust that the justice system will bring this matter to the right result. Mr. Biber has been placed on leave and is not currently practicing law with our firm. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic development.
Shortly after Biber was charged, MSBA president Leo Brisbois released the following statement on behalf of the bar group: "The allegations in the Criminal Complaint issued today are deeply troubling. It is important, however, that we respect the legal process and allow the judicial system to resolve this matter.
"In the meantime, the MSBA is working expeditiously to suspend Mr. Biber of his duties as treasurer, including the transfer of his responsibilities to others.
"The MSBA extends its concern to everyone involved during this difficult time."
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Comments
| Rick |
Feb 10, 2010 at 10:50 PM |
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" Looks like he is guilty, he sent nasty pics to the boy's phone which the police had and basically admitted to it before he even got arrested.
There are cases you read about where it seemed like the kid wanted it and took steps to seek out a relationship but this does not seem like one of them and it is too bad that a boy got victimized by someone he trusted.
I'm sure the lawyer will not get what I would if I did the same thing but his career is over and life will never be the same for him again. "
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| French Tickler |
Jan 11, 2010 at 3:03 PM |
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" Oh and another topic for username "huh"...tiger should be left alone "
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| French Tickler |
Jan 11, 2010 at 2:56 PM |
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" Allright listen up...this guy is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY...so shut up and let the pros decide his fate. also...this should have NOTHING to do with politics...Blonk is an idiot...most likely a repub trying to make liberals feel "ashamed"...
The only thing that corrupts people are their own minds and money and power, not BEING A DEMOCRAT...get some sense and stop using your childish bs to solve important issues. Until then, vote for Palin, you idiot. "
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| jenny |
Jan 8, 2010 at 5:33 PM |
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" he is sooooo guilty. SHAME ON AARON BIBER.. "
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| melissa |
Dec 25, 2009 at 12:52 AM |
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" aaron biber is innocent until proven guilty. So stop with your nasty coments. just because the boy is 15 dont mean he is telling the truth. If you dont know the facts then dont make the judgement. "
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| jrtsac |
Dec 18, 2009 at 3:39 PM |
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" Blonk - you sure got our attention with your dumb comment. sounds like I should be ashamed to be a golfer these days.
Many prayers for both families (and even for Blonk). "
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| jenny |
Dec 18, 2009 at 3:22 PM |
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" He is one sick individual and i hope he is locked up for many years, so he will never do this heinous crime to anyone else. Shame on him , he has damaged this poor kid's life, as well as his own family . "
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| Steve |
Dec 18, 2009 at 10:47 AM |
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" I worked with Aaron at a different law firm and this is greatly disturbing and unexpected! He was very nice and laughed all the time and could hear him down the hall. I was 17 turning 18 when I was at the firm and was treated with the utmost respect by him and everyone else at the firm.
I'm greatly saddened that after 5 years this comes out of the woodwork. My thoughts are prayers are to his family and the 15 year old and his family. "
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| David |
Dec 17, 2009 at 5:26 PM |
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" More detailed, more disturbing "
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| nOt JK |
Dec 17, 2009 at 2:31 PM |
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" The eveidence is NOT in favor of this man. IF he is proven guilty, he deserves what he is getting. This is sad and disgusting and now that boy will live the rest of his life in pain. Don't feel sorry for the accused. "
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| Mettenes |
Dec 17, 2009 at 10:10 AM |
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" When Larry Craig was arrested at MSP airport, did any MN Republican say, "This is a terrible blow to the GOP?"
(Terrible choice of words, Mr. Bonk..."terrible blow!" "
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| Anonymous |
Dec 16, 2009 at 5:34 PM |
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" Aaron's high school classmates pray for the victim(s), families, colleagues and friends affected. "
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| Matt Smith |
Dec 15, 2009 at 5:30 PM |
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" Clive Blonk, did you read the article? It is about a scum bag raping a child, it doesn't say anything about the DFL.
I guess no situation is off limits for a little political mud slinging. "
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| Roberta Nyquist |
Dec 15, 2009 at 12:07 PM |
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" I no longer work with Gray, Plant, Mooty, but am the same age as Aaron and worked at GPM as a litigation paralegal basically when he was a very young attorney. I worked closely with him on some antitrust cases. He was/is a very kind person and I would have never in a million years thought that Aaron could ever do anything like he is accused of doing. However, the evidence as documented in the media appears to be quite strong. I certainly pray that there are no other victims. My heart goes out to the young man and his family, to Aaron's family, to the employees at GPM, and to the Minneapolis/St. Paul legal community at large. It makes me very, very sad. "
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| Minnesota attorney |
Dec 15, 2009 at 12:07 PM |
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" To Mr. Blonk: Who said that Aaron Biber has anything to do with the DFL? And even if he did, what does his political orientation have to do with anything? Explain your bizarre and random comment, please. "
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| a dismayed attorey |
Dec 15, 2009 at 10:54 AM |
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" to all :
Please read the criminal complaint posted at www.minnlawyerblog.com.
and to Mr. Schultz - what does this have to do wuth his political orientation - do you think that there aren't republican deviants also?. I think it is his moral inclination at issue and his selfish behavior with disregard for the effect on anyone else - like the votm and his family and that of Mr. Biber himself. He should know better as an attorney and at that, a prominent one who sought out positions of authority and governance in our community. How dissapointing and sad.
My thoughts are with tehbrave boy who spoke out and his family and the woife and children of Mr. Biber. "
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| huh |
Dec 15, 2009 at 12:54 AM |
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" What???!!!!???? C'mon. At age 46, for the 1st time ever, you ply a youngster with alcohol and then have sex with him? How unlikely. Me thinks it will be a Tiger-like phenom....they'll be coming out of the woodwork shortly. What a horrible deal for his wife & kids and a terrible betrayal to the victim & his family. And, as for the "if it's true" comments, we don't know all the details (thank God) but it sounds pretty darned incriminating. WTF was this guy thinking? "
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| Clive Blonk |
Dec 14, 2009 at 6:11 PM |
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" This is a terrible blow to the DFL. I am so ashamed to be a Democrat. "
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| Bruce Schultz |
Dec 14, 2009 at 5:46 PM |
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" Indeed. As the dad of two boys I'm just shaking my head wondering what kind of world they are going to have to navigate. If this is true, Mr. Biber has ruined his career, his family, and an innocent young man.
Heartbreaking. "
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| Dan Masters |
Dec 14, 2009 at 4:47 PM |
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" If true, it took a lot of courage for the kid to tell someone. "
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