In May of 2024, a former Saint John’s Abbey monk met (over Zoom) with an investigator with the Stearns County Sheriffs Office to share information about the abbey, its history and information that might help solve the “death” of Rev. Bruce Wollmering. During that conversation, the investigator learned that the individual had been victimized by a monk.
After the Wollmering-related discussion, the investigator asked if the victim would be willing to share his experience. The victim agreed. Here are excepts from that conversation.
Excerpt #1
I [Investigator/Sergeant Brian Bohlig] had been speaking with [redacted] related to information they wanted to provide under Stearns County Sheriff’s Office ICR number 09006520 [Note: Death of Bruce Wollmering] and during that conversation,[redacted] said he was sexually assaulted at Saint John’s University sometime in 2017. I asked if he wanted to report that and he said yes.
Excerpt #2
[redacted] told me he was a Junior Monk and arrived at Saint John’s University in June of 2017. He was taking a class at Saint John’s University studying English as a second language. While he was out at Saint John’s and getting ready to take his final vows, he had a sexual encounter with a different priest fully identified as Father Michael Leonard Hahn, DOB [redacted] address [redacted] Avenue North, Robbinsdale, Minnesota 55422.Excerpt #3
[Redacted] said that he felt pressured to do the sexual act to Father Hahn because he was a probationary Monk and Father Hahn was a full-fledged Monk. He also said that after final vows, there was a voting process to come into the community and he said that Father Hahn did not have a vote in that process but had influence over the voting board and he felt that if he did not comply with Father Hahn’s request that he would not get into the monastic community.Excerpt #4
I [Investigator/Sergeant Brian Bohlig] explained the criminal process to and asked if he wanted to proceed with a criminal investigation and he said he did. I also explained to that I would need complete cooperation and any documents that [redacted] had regarding the sexual contact between him and Father Hahn I would need for my investigation. It also appeared that had filed a lawsuit at some point and there was a Title IX Investigation between Saint John’s and the Abbey. It was explained to me that they were going to consult with their attorney [Michele Betti] before releasing to me anything. I explained to them that Father Hahn would not be interviewed unless I received all documentation related to the investigation.
Final Note
Due to concerns regarding potentially confidential information. The victim was not able to provide the follow up information (photos, videos, screenshots, etc) that Sergeant Brian Bohlig requested. As a result, the criminal investigation was closed.
More information: Michael Hahn’s Conduct and the Settlement Agreement.
