Deputy Accused Of Sexual Abuse

(AP) A Stearns County sheriff's deputy is accused of sexually abusing three teenagers. 44-year old Deputy Phillip Meemken was charged Friday with 21 counts, including 18 counts of criminal sexual conduct. The complaint says the three alleged victims included two relatives of Meemken and a friend.

Meemken headed the Stearns County Police Explorer Program, which involves young people in law enforcement. Some of the alleged victims were part of that program. One of the teens reported sexual assaults that allegedly happened over 18 months, from July 2008 to December of 2009. None of the alleged incidents apparently happened while Meemken was on duty.

Meemken is a 17-year veteran of the sheriff's office. He was placed on administrative leave last December when the allegations were reported. He's being held in the Crow Wing County Jail in Brainerd.