NEW ULM — A 39-year-old Hanska man was sentenced to more than 36 years in prison Wednesday for five felony first and second-degree criminal sexual conduct convictions in two Brown County District Court jury trials earlier this year.

Christopher Lee Konakowitz was found guilty of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against persons under age 13 and acquitted on two second-degree criminal sexual conduct counts on April 29.

He was sentenced to 103 months in the St. Cloud Correctional Facility for the first count and 86 months in prison for the third count Wednesday, with conditional release after five years confinement for each count. Konakowitz was credited with 279 days served, fined $85 and ordered to register as a predatory offender.

Konakowitz was found guilty of two counts of felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct with victims under age 13 on July 30. He was sentenced to 210 months in prison for the first count, credited for 34 days served, fined $85 and ordered to register as a predatory offender and provide a DNA sample. He was sentenced to 36 months in prison for the second count, credited with 34 days served and has no conditional release after confinement.

Konakowitz did not comment on the sentencing, other than that he said he respects any decision the court makes.

Brown County District Court Judge Robert Docherty approved a request by Mankato defense attorney Thomas K. Hagen to allow Konakowitz to remain in the Brown County Jail for the duration of another jury trial he faces, scheduled to be held here Aug. 31 through Sept. 3.

Deputy Brown County Attorney Jill Jensen requested a double upward durational (sentencing) departure of 280 months of each victim for his sexual assaults of two young children.

Jensen added that the jury found a combination of aggravating factors for each victim including sexual assault while they were physically helpless (sleeping) and due to their young age.

“He’s a repeat offender, a serial pedophile sexually assaulting multiple children,” Jensen said. “He failed to take responsibility for his predatory offenses. He repeatedly sexually abused a five-year-old child. This is not a typical case.”

Hagen argued that Konakowitz was released from custody during the COVID-19 pandemic and had no violations or problems.

“The multiple charges never involved weapons or tying up,” said Hagen.

Docherty said the 210 month prison sentence for one of the convictions was an appropriate sentence departure.

In addition, Jensen filed a motion Aug. 25 for prosecution costs requiring Konakowitz to pay $1,276.44 for just and reasonable costs of prosecution.