Sex Offender Therapist Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Girl

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - A clinical therapist at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl and threatening to kill her if she told.

Fifty-seven-year-old Wanda Viento was charged with several felonies Friday. The state agency that oversees the program says the charges aren't related to Viento's work duties.

According to the complaint, a Mankato detective interviewed a girl in Minneapolis who said Viento first molested her when she was about 9 or 10.

Viento had babysat the girl when Viento lived in Mankato. The girl said the last case of abuse was last fall.

Reports say bail for Viento was set at $200,000. Her public defender says Viento is "absolutely stunned" by the charges.

Viento is a former director of the Women's Center at Minnesota State, Mankato. She was hired at the sex offender program in August.