The Minnesota Department of Health has accused an assisted-living facility in Sartell of failing to thoroughly investigate allegations of sexual assault by an employee.

The state says administrators at The Legends at Heritage Place also failed to protect its residents and report the allegations. Staff members told administrators that a female employee had fondled at least three residents.

Health officials say the facility has policies in place to protect, investigate and protect residents from abuse, but that those policies were not followed. The St. Cloud Times says the employees who reported the alleged abuse never heard back from administrators.

The investigation into the abuse allegations has been forwarded to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for possible criminal charges. The Legends management company did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.