Alleged Sex Addict Convicted of Molesting Vulnerable Adult

Article written by Clare Kennedy

A 51-year-old Burnsville man has been convicted of sexually molesting a vulnerable adult in Eagan.

Thomas Richard McCaffrey was convicted of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct on July 9. The case against McCaffrey originates from October 2012, when an investigator with the Eagan Police Department received word that a vulnerable adult had been sexually assaulted by a family member. The report came in after the suspect, McCaffrey, sent the victim a handwritten letter of apology.

"I am very sorry I betrayed your trust and was the reason for your recent discomfort and regression," the letter read. "The touches were inappropriate, but I promise you there are no inappropriate feelings towards you."

On Oct. 10, 2012, officers interviewed the victim, who said that in May of that year her car broke down, so McCaffrey volunteered to give her rides to her therapist's office. On the return trip, McCaffrey would often escort her up to her apartment, which was located in Eagan. On a number of occasions, McCaffrey touched the victim in a sexual way: He would hug her very hard, put his cheek against hers and caress her back. At times he would reach around and fondle the sides of her breasts over her clothing or put his hands inside her shirt and touch her bare shoulders.

The victim added that McCaffrey frequently made inappropriate comments about her appearance, and had once surreptitiously taken a photo her butt when she was bending over.

Eventually, the victim told her mother what was going on. When interviewed by police, the victim's mother said that the incidents had come to light after she asked her daughter about McCaffrey's behavior, specifically his propensity for "tickling" the victim. When confronted by mother and daughter, McCaffrey said that he knew the hugging wasn't right, but insisted that his behavior was not sexual in nature. He said he didn't look at the victim "that way."

The victim's mother told police that McCaffrey was a sex addict, who frequently looked at porn and also stealth photos he'd taken of strangers on the bus.

McCaffrey was charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, a gross misdemeanor that carries up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine. He pleaded guilty to the charge on April 29, 2013.

On July 9, Judge Thomas Bibus stayed most of the sentence, ordering McCaffrey to serve six days in the Dakota County Jail instead. In addition, McCaffrey will be subject to two years of probation, a $300 fine, and enrollment in a sex offender treatment program. As per the terms of his probation and treatment, McCaffrey is prohibited from using alcohol or controlled substances and will be subject to random testing. He is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with the victim, other vulnerable adults, or minors, or minor family members unless specifically granted permission by his probation officer.

If McCaffrey violates any of the terms of his probation he could face prison time.

He will also be obliged to pay restitution to the victim.