Sexual Misconduct Charges Dropped Against Fmr. Burnsville Swimming Coach After Hung Juries
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Dakota County Attorney has decided not to pursue charges of criminal sexual conduct against a former Burnsville swimming coach, following two trials that ended with hung juries.
Authorities had accused Alfred John O'Neill, 63, of having a sexual relationship with an underage swimmer in the 1980s.
In May 2018, authorities received a report that a female swimmer had been sexually abused on multiple occasions from 1988 to 1989.
Charges alleged that the coach misused his position of authority over a 17-year-old. He had been her coach since she was 14.
The case was tried with two Dakota County juries in April and November 2019. Both juries failed to reach a verdict.
A second criminal case against O'Neill was filed in 2018, but ultimately it was dropped as well.
A woman claimed to have been subject to sexual abuse by O'Neill when she was 16 to 17 years old and he coached her from 1997 to 1998.
The prosecutor determined that they could not prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt and dismissed the case.