By Zhaolan Wang

An independent living skills worker faces 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy for around six months beginning, according to a Hennepin County Court statement of probable cause. 

The entrance of Hennepin County Court, photo taken on Sept. 18, 2024.

The police received a report from a complainant on May 29, Erwin James Fowler, 58, sexually abused a 17-year-old boy, prosecutors said in the statement of probable cause. Based on this case, Greg Sawyer, a University of Minnesota counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist, said he believes sexual education should not be a one-time conversation, but an ongoing dialogue in which minors can ask questions.

Fowler, who worked as an independent living skills worker with the boy for almost one year, also volunteers at the boy’s school, prosecutors said. The boy said sexual contact with Fowler began in December 2023 in the showers at the Brooklyn Park and downtown Minneapolis YMCA.

The boy said Fowler sexually abused him about 10 times at Fowler’s home in Burnsville, Minnesota, according to the probable cause statement. 

Approximately five of every 1,000 children in Minnesota were subject to maltreatment in 2020, with 61% of those children experiencing neglect and 23% experiencing physical abuse, according to the Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services 2020.

Until 2022, at least 16% of Minnesota youth experienced sexual violence victimization by 11th grade, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Dakota County District Court charged Fowler for sexually assaulting the minor, which took place in Burnsville, according to the statement of probable cause. Fowler posted a $75,000 bond in the case.

Fowler is not in custody. Prosecutors requested a warrant for Fowler’s alleged crimes in Hennepin County, saying in the statement of probable cause they were worried he might flee. Fowler searched for international flights immediately prior to his Dakota County arrest.

Minnesota law defines Fowler as in a position of authority over the boy as his independent living skills worker at the time of the sexual abuse.

The Minneapolis police department public information officer declined to comment.

“The age at which one should begin sexuality education and the impact of sexuality education are very controversial subjects,” said Dr. Michael Miner, a University of Minnesota medical school professor emeritus who specializes in sex offender treatment and compulsive sexual behavior.

The CDC study identified 20 sexual health education topics, such as establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, being sexually abstinent, and engaging in behaviors that prevent or reduce sexually transmitted diseases as critical for ensuring a young person’s sexual health. 

In 2018, 15.1% of Minnesota secondary schools taught all 20 critical sexual health education topics in a required course for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. For ninth, 10th, and 11th grade, 12.42% of schools taught the topic in a required course, according to the CDC study.

Most parents agree schools should encourage students to talk to a parent or guardian about sex and sexuality, according to a medical school report on youth development.

More than 90% of Minnesota parents surveyed said they want public school teachers to teach abstinence and science-based, comprehensive sexuality education, and 96% said they want the information to be medically accurate, according to the report. 

Sawyer said parents are the most appropriate source of information about sexuality for minors.

“Trusting that the minors have an open and trusting relationship with their parents, it would be best received in this manner. As far as when, I think some of that depends on the maturity of the minor and the message from the parents,” Sawyer said. “It would be best offered with the framing of ‘We are wanting you to be informed so that you are prepared when the time comes for a sexual relationship.’”

Sources:

• CDC – The School Health Profiles
• Child Abuse in Minnesota
• Crime Document:
• Greg Sawyer
• Michael Miner
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Survey shows Minnesota parents want comprehensive sexuality education in schools
• 2023 Minnesota Statutes