ASSAULT102007

Bayport man charged with sexually assaulting teen in July

A Bayport man has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage friend of his daughter who was visiting their home.

Last update: October 19, 2007 - 9:40 PM

A Bayport man has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage friend of his daughter who was visiting their home.

Michael J. Bergum, 35, was charged this week with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and furnishing beer and alcohol to a minor. He is a mortgage broker in Stillwater.

According to the complaint:

One night in July, a 16-year-old girlfriend of Bergum's daughter stayed overnight. The following afternoon, Bergum supplied beer to the girl and her boyfriend and drank with them.

Late that evening, Bergum mixed vodka and cranberry juice drinks for them. Then, Bergum joined the girl and her boyfriend in the garage, where the teens were smoking and gave them a clear liquid he called "gorilla."

The girl said she began to feel dizzy and "out of it" as she went back in the house with Bergum. She said that Bergum was "very touchy" with her and grabbed her breasts.

About 1 a.m., the girl was reaching over her boyfriend in the front passenger seat of a car in Bergum's driveway. At that point Bergum went to the car, put his hand up her shorts and sexually assaulted her. He later apologized.

The girl also told police that Bergum had grabbed or touched her at least 10 times previously, usually when he had been drinking.

Also in July, Bergum was sentenced to probation and fined on a fifth-degree drug possession charge.

PAUL WALSH AND JIM ADAMS