SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Tuesday, the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance & Policy Committee held a public hearing on Sheyla’s Law, legislation authored by Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL – Shoreview) to strengthen justice for members of the Minnesota National Guard who experience sexual assault at the hands of another Guard member. The bill transfers investigations of sexual assault where the victim and the accused are both members of the Guard to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The bill is named for Specialist Sheyla Scholl, a constituent of Rep. Moller who attempted to report a sexual assault that occurred at the hands of another Guard member on the night of her Advanced Individual Training graduation in 2016. She was initially discouraged from reporting the incident by local law enforcement, but followed through with the report over a year later when encouraged to do so by another survivor of the same perpetrator. The investigation lasted two and a half years, taking a significant toll on herself and her family.
“After talking to Sheyla and other survivors, it’s clear the inconsistencies of investigations at the local level creates challenges for survivors themselves and for the investigation by the military that follows,” Rep. Moller said. “This bill helps improve justice by both streamlining the investigation process while addressing the unique issues involving rank and position of authority within the military. I’m incredibly grateful for the bravery from Sheyla and the other survivors to push for the necessary changes this bipartisan legislation makes.”
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