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Nearly a decade after receiving Minnesota’s top teaching honor, Abdul J. Wright sat between his attorneys in a Hennepin County courtroom Monday and listened to one of his former students describe how Wright allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted her when she was 14 years old.
In 2024, Hennepin County prosecutors charged Wright, now 39, with first-degree criminal sexual conduct after the woman’s mother reported the allegations, which date to 2017. Wright waived his right to a jury trial, so Judge Sarah West will decide whether he's guilty or not.
MPR News is not naming the woman, now 22, to protect her privacy. In response to questions from Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Evan Powell, the alleged victim said that Wright was popular among students at Harvest Best Academy charter school where he taught for more than a decade. Wright later taught English at St. Louis Park High School. He left the district in early 2024 when the allegations came to light.
“He allowed us to eat lunch in his class,” she said. “If we were having a hard day, we could go to his room.”
The woman said that Wright took groups of students to Timberwolves games and played online iPhone games with some after getting their phone numbers. She testified that Wright singled her out.
“He just expressed wanting to spend more time together,” she said, and soon started commenting on her looks.
The woman said that Wright also asked him to babysit his three school age daughters at the school while Wright attended meetings. She added that Wright worked to gain the trust of her mother.
As the two confided in each other about trouble in their personal lives, the woman testified that Wright began making comments about her physical appearance.
“He made comments about my clothes, how they fit,” she said.
“How did those conversations make you feel at the time?” Powell asked.
“Definitely confused. I felt like the dynamic was still like I’m a child and he’s an adult. I’m not really sure what’s happening, but if he’s making it OK I guess it’s fine,” she replied.
The alleged victim then described how Wright sexually assaulted her multiple times, often in classrooms at Harvest Best Academy after school hours. She said that in one instance, Wright was interrupted when his youngest daughter walked into the room.
In her opening statement, defense attorney Natalie Cote told the court that the woman is lying about the assaults in pursuit of monetary gain through a civil lawsuit that she filed in March.
“There will be no credible evidence to corroborate her allegations,” Cote said.
The alleged victim is expected to continue her testimony Tuesday and face cross examination from Wright’s defense team.
A 24-hour statewide sexual violence and domestic violence hotline is available in Minnesota. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.
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