10/12/2026
A former Cook County Sheriff deputy and former church youth leader in Grand Marais, Minnesota sentenced for harassing teens.
MICAH AVERY WORKED AS SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IN 2021
Following publication of our article on Grand Marais former church youth leader Micah Avery being sentenced for harassing two teenage girls, the Monitor was contacted by a Grand Marais resident who was concerned that we were “blaming” Avery’s actions on the church and “covering up” the fact that Avery had once been a Cook County Sheriff’s deputy.
We had known (and reported) that Avery had been a probation officer, but this was the first time we had heard of him being a deputy.
An email to the Cook County Human Resources Department confirmed this: Five years ago, Micah Avery worked as a deputy sheriff for about five months—from May 9, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021.
The Monitor does not blame anyone for Avery’s actions but Avery. Abusers are skilled at insinuating themselves into positions of influence to be closer to their victims, and their deceit can be difficult to detect. They don’t wear signs advertising what they are.
When the church discovered Avery’s text messages, they immediately reported him to law enforcement and expelled him from the church. As they heal from the wounds Avery inflicted, we do not believe they should be punished further with resentful accusations.
Our coverage of Avery's sentencing can be found here:
duluthmonitor.com/2026/10/11/former-grand-marais-youth-leader-sentenced-for-harassing-teens/
