Dassel-Cokato School Board Member Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 40-year-old Dassel man is accused of drugging a female victim and sexually assaulting her at his residence earlier this month, according to charges filed in Meeker County Court.

Shane Colberg was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and possessing a firearm, drugs and drug paraphernalia in connection with the incident.

Officials with the Dassel-Cokato School District said Thursday Colberg is a member of the school board.

According to the charges, the Wright County Sheriff's Office met with the adult female victim at about 12:14 a.m. at her residence. She told authorities that on Sept. 10, she went to Colberg's residence in Dassel. He gave her an alcoholic beverage, she began to feel very strange and consented to performing oral sex on him.

The complaint states she then blacked out, doesn't remember what happened but woke up to him having sex with her. She left the residence in a hurry, but had to pull over because she still felt "weird."

Authorities observed large bruises on her, which she said he gave her during sex. She said she's known Colberg for a month or two and they had communicated over texts and phone calls. She said when she went to his house on Sept. 10, he gave her one White Claw spritzer.

The complaint states she told authorities after she had the drink, she felt weird and groggy and believes she may have been drugged. She woke up to him having sex with her, and he left the bedroom saying "he was going to do coke." She then blacked out again and doesn't remember anything until she woke up in his bed.

According to the complaint, she told Colberg she was OK with oral sex but didn't want to have a relationship with him and was not OK with having sex with him.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Colberg's home on Wednesday, and found the alcoholic beverage, a paper bindle of an unknown white, powdery substance, white residue which tested positive for cocaine, a baggie of marijuana in his bedroom closet, two shotguns and other firearms throughout the house.

Colberg was arrested and in an interview with police, he denied giving the victim any drugs and denied having forced penetration with her. He admitted to sexual contact and having sex with her, but said it was consensual. He said the victim was never incapacitated or helpless. He also said his friends would do cocaine in his house, but he never did it. He said his friends may have used the cocaine in his bedroom closet.

The case remains under investigation.