BABBITT, Minn. – A now-former math teacher charged with abusing a juvenile family member, “was aware for some time that he was prone to sexually assault minor females,” prosecutors claim.
Ryan Ross Denzer-Johnson, 43, a math teacher and robotics coach at the Northeast Range School in Babbitt, is no longer employed, after he was charged with the alleged abuse of a juvenile female family member over the course of a year. According to jail and court records, Denzer-Johnson was arrested last Thursday and arraigned earlier today on three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.
Principal John Vukmanich said in an email that Denzer-Johnson “is no longer a 2142 school district employee in any capacity.” Denzer-Johnson had been employed with the district since at least 2015.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office first became aware of the abuse allegations during a forensic interview with the juvenile victim on Aug. 12. The victim said she underwent knee surgery around March of 2023, and was required to do stretches to help recover. She told authorities that “every time” Denzer-Jonson would help with her stretching, he would touch her inappropriately.
When asked what made the assaults stop, the victim said, “That the sexual assaults stopped when she no longer needed assistance with stretching.” The victim also described a separate instance of alleged inappropriate touching by Denzer-Johnson at a cabin.
The day after the victim was interviewed, Denzer-Johnson’s wife spoke to law enforcement. Authorities learned that on Aug. 9, Denzer-Johnson “disclosed to [his wife] that he had sexually assault[ed] [the victim] two years ago, and it ended one year ago.”
Denzer-Johnson was interviewed on Aug. 14, and reportedly confirmed the victim’s allegations. According to the complaint, he “specifically recalled” details of incidents which were also reported by the victim.
During his interview, Denzer-Johnson allegedly said, “I can’t tell you that that never happened other times,” referring to the abuse.
The St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office wrote in their recommendation for bail that Denzer-Johnson had allegedly admitted to having cameras inside the victim’s room and would “watch [the victim] get dressed and undressed in her bedroom.” Denzer-Johnson reportedly said he had watched other juvenile female relatives changing by “removing the trim on the basement bathroom door so he could view.”
According to the recommendation, Denzer-Johnson was not only a teacher but also a member of the youth ministry and advisory board of an unnamed church.
The prosecution justified their $300,000 bail recommendation by alleging that Denzer-Johson was “aware for some time that he was prone to sexually assault minor females,” however, he “put himself in positions with access to minor females: teacher in the Babbitt school district, youth ministry, and church advisory board.” Their bail recommendation was granted.
Denzer-Johnson is charged with three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first-degree, which could carry a maximum possible sentence of 90 years in prison.
The Twin Ports Report 