Two Iron River men face charges of sexual assaulting a minor

Two Iron River men face charges after authorities say they sexually assaulted a girl under the age of 13 and threatened her with a deadly weapon.

Court records say the assaults took place in Orienta and Iron River in 2022. According to the criminal complaint Cullin Stirling, 19, and Logan Helenius, 23, also threatened to shoot her if she told anyone.

Helenius faces charges of first degree sexual assault, felony intimidation of a victim, and first-degree sexual assault, party to a crime. The first two charges have an enhancement for use of a dangerous weapon.

Stirling faces two charges of intimidating, threatening a victim, and two charges of first-degree sexual assault. The latter counts also have a dangerous weapon enhancement.

According to the complaint, the victim told authorities she was suspended from school in November 2022 and went to Helenius’ property to go “bough picking” with Helenius and Stirling.

When they arrived at the property, Helenius opened her door and Stirling pulled her pants down. They both grasped her legs and Stirling sexually assaulted her.

They then traveled around the property and Stirling told her if she said anything they would shoot her, the complaint said.

While picking boughs, Helenius told the victim to lie down and he pulled down her pants. Helenius proceeded to sexually assault her and then left. Stirling was nearby and told her if she said anything, he would shoot her in the head. They then continued picking boughs and loaded them in the van.

On Nov. 22, 2022, Stirling and the girl were playing video games at her residence in Iron River when Stirling pulled a pistol out of his waistband, pointed it at her head and said “don’t tell anybody,” the complaint said. He made the child lay down on the couch and sexually assaulted her.

The girl said Stirling “was on meth,” according to the complaint. Stirling continued playing video games after he was done.

In an interview with law enforcement, Stirling said he “never touched that little girl,” according to the complaint.

He admitted that they had guns, but said Helenius got rid of his months ago. Stirling then mentioned that he saw Helenius with the gun the other day, “but he was a close friend and did not want to get him in trouble.”

Helenius told law enforcement they went bough picking and he had a gun. He denied doing anything to the child and said he was not a rapist.

Stirling and Helenius both have status conferences this month.