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MPR News Staff

Charges: U law prof stalked, sexually assaulted ex-girlfriend

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U of M law school
U of M law school
Tim Post | MPR News file

Updated: 8:20 p.m. | Posted: 5:26 p.m.

A University of Minnesota Law School professor has been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and stalking for alleged attacks against a woman stretching back two years.

Francesco Parisi, 54, of Minneapolis was charged Tuesday and is expected to make a court appearance Wednesday, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

According to the charging document, the woman told Minneapolis police in late January that Parisi, a man she'd dated for several months in 2014 and early 2015, had been stalking her and tried to run her over with his Jeep. She also alleged Parisi became increasingly volatile during their relationship and, at one point, she had a protection order against him.

Prosecutors say in January 2015 Parisi allegedly became violent after she confronted him about sexual encounters he said he had with other women and girls. Authorities allege he then slammed the victim to the floor and sexually assaulted her.

The complaint says that the victim saw Parisi follow her in his car recently and on Jan. 17, while she was out for a run, he allegedly drove up on a Minneapolis sidewalk and nearly hit her.

"She managed to get into a building and an elevator, where she suffered another stress-induced seizure. A citizen called 911 and the woman was hospitalized for three days," the county attorney's office said.

Parisi's attorney said the charges have no basis in fact.

"The 'victim' has made allegations with zero evidence, other than her word, based on facts that have already been disproven in court in her various civil actions to try to discredit Professor Parisi," attorney Barry Edwards said in a statement. "The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has failed to do their due diligence in charging these allegations."

Parisi's university biography lists him as the author of 10 books on law and economics. He's taught at the law school since 2006. From 1993 to 2006 he taught at George Mason University in Virginia.

A University of Minnesota spokesperson said in an email that U officials "have not yet had an opportunity to discuss the matter or his status" with Parisi.

"We take allegations of this nature seriously, and will continue to monitor the legal proceedings," Evan Lapiska said.