Twin Cities Man Charged With Rape At A Fosston Area Bible Camp

A Burnsville man is behind bars in Polk County, after allegedly raping two underage girls at a summer Bible camp.

18-year-old Semaj Avyiair Okongwu, faces two charges of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree after being accused of assaulting two girls at Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp south of Fosston.

The alleged assaults took place back on July 25th and 28th, according to court documents. An investigation led to a warrant issued by the Polk County District Court on September 27. Okongwu was arrested in Itasca County on Monday and transported to the Northwest Regional Corrections Center in Crookston.

According to the criminal complaint, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office went to the camp on July 28 after receiving a report of a possible rape. The deputy took a statement from the victim who told the deputy that Okongwu raped her.

A deputy also interviewed Okongwu, who said that sexual acts took place but said they were consensual.

The complaint also states that on August 1^st, a deputy with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office took a statement from a girl between the ages of 13 and 15 years old. The girl told the deputy that on the evening of July 25, while playing capture the flag at Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp, Okongwu sexually molested the victim and attempted to rape her.

Okongwu could face up to 20 years in prison and $60,000 in fines.