State Therapist Charged With Molesting 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.

The Free Press of Mankato reports 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.