NEW ULM — A 27-year-old New Ulm man faces a felony charge of soliciting a child or someone believed to be a child in Brown County District Court.

Benjamin T. Hansen, 622 12th St. S., was charged with soliciting a child or believed to be a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct Friday.

His unconditional bail was set at $5,000. He was released on his own recognizance with conditions.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police received information on March 15 about a New Ulm suspect who offered to have sex with a 15-year-old girl. The suspect was identified as Hansen.

On March 24, New Ulm Police Senior Investigator Jeff Hohensee began communication with Hansen electronically, posing as a 15-year-old girl. During conversations, Hansen informed Hohensee he wanted to have sexual intercourse several times, going into explicit detail as to what he wanted to do sexually.

At one point, Hohensee switched phone numbers on Hansen, telling him his mother took a cell phone away. It was at that time that the phone numbers were switched to mobile phone technology for law enforcement to catch and prosecute predators, human traffickers and those who would exploit children).

On April 2, Hohensee arrested Hansen for electronically soliciting a child under the age of 16 for sex.

Hansen told District Court Judge Robert Docherty he has taught grades 3-5 at River Bend Area Learning Center in New Ulm since Aug. 20, 2018. He asked for a continuance to retain an attorney. A Rule 8 hearing was set for 8:30 a.m. April 16.