A Luverne man is behind bars accused of having a sexual relationship with his adopted daughter for many years. He's also allegedly the father of her two children.

Leo Edwin Roger Swenson, who's 76 is charged with first and third degree criminal sexual conduct against his adopted daughter who is now 31 years old.

A family friend who didn't want to share her name on camera says she knew about the alleged abuse.

A family friend says, "I knew this was happening. I knew some of this has happened and when this came out I said there it is, it's coming to life."

She says this headline story was one she'd heard first hand for years from phone calls from Swenson's wife.

A family friend says, "I told her to get out of it, you don't deserve that, but she never did."

The filed complaint alleges the abuse started when the daughter was just 12. The victim says her mother had moved in with Swenson when she was pregnant. While the mother was in the hospital, the abuse began. It continued she says everyday until she was about 24 years old, when she had appendix surgery. From then on she says sexual contact happened about once a month.

Then, on Wednesday the victim sought protection at family services in Luverne where she told authorities that Swenson had also fathered her two children during the years of abuse.

Now this family friend says she hopes Swenson's daughter and wife can have a chance at something better and justice can be served.

A family friend says, "For the treatment he's given her, they ought to give him the treatment double."

Police say Swenson tried to report his adopted daughter as a missing person Wednesday saying she had left after a verbal fight earlier in the day. He was arrested after police contacted her and she reported the abuse.

Swenson faces a maximum of 45 years in prison and/or a $70,000 fine.