NEW ULM — A 42-year-old New Ulm man who pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct and assault in two criminal cases in Brown County District Court Tuesday, was sentenced to more than 15 years at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility.

Jesse Craig Hedlund was convicted of felony first and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with persons under age 13 and 14, and more than three years older, on one case. Seven criminal sexual conduct charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to at least 13 1/2 years in prison and credited with 282 days served.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Department Senior Investigator Jeff Hohensee received a child protection summary report regarding sexual assaults by Hedlund with juveniles last winter.

A mandated reporter heard the first juvenile victim tell the second victim that Hedlund sexually abused her. The second and third victims said Hedlund did the same thing to them.

The juveniles told a forensic interviewer on Feb. 24 that Hedlund disrobed them and had sex with them, forcing them at times and threatening them not to tell anyone, beginning about Jan. 17.

The first juvenile said punishment from Hedlund included being told to write many pages of sentences that she was “not being accountable.” Punishments also included soap in her mouth, a spanking with a belt and being hit in the head with a wooden spoon and mallet that was referred to as a “think stick.”

A second juvenile said she was scared when Hedlund abused her because she didn’t know what to do and was scared to say anything for fear he would hurt her.

A third juvenile said he was “beat up way too many times to count by Hedlund, including being punched which hurt his body and and his feelings. He said he was not fed multiple days at a time, comparing himself to rescue dogs left without food or water.

When an approved search warrant was served at Hedlund’s residence, a mallet with a wooden handle and rubber end was seized in addition to bed sheets, covers and a carpet section where the juveniles said they were assaulted.

Hedlund and Alisha Kay Miller were arrested and charged after a school resource officer noticed a Jefferson Elementary student with facial bruises for the second time since Jan. 20. In addition, the child had red scrapes and a laceration.

Hohensee and Investigator Tara Martin and a Brown County Human services social worker met with the second victim at New Ulm Middle School. The victim identified Miller as her mother and Hedlund as her stepfather.

The children were taken to the Midwest Children’s Resource Center (MCRC) in St. Paul.

An MCRC complaint summary read “exposure to adverse childhood experiences are known to result in significant, long-term physical and mental health consequences.

Miller was originally charged with 16 counts of assault, malicious punishment of a child and child neglect. She pleaded guilty to third-degree assault-past pattern of child abuse Sept. 14. The remaining counts were dismissed.

Miller’s sentence of three years supervised probation and six days sentence to service was a stay of imposition. She was sentenced to 12 days in the Brown County Jail with an option of asix days sentence to service in lieu of jail. She was fined $460 and ordered to have no contact with victims until completion of a domestic abuse assessment and recommendation.

“This is a unique case. The most heinous cases I’ve been involved with. I hope this provides some closure for his victims so they can start on what is almost certainly a lifetime of recovery,” said Chief Deputy Brown County Attorney Dan Kalk.

“It’s unspeakable to the children involved. To say he (Hedlund) tapped them was a huge understatement. These children were beat,” Kalk said.

“This is one of the cases that will stick with me for the rest of my life,” said Judge Robert Docherty.

Mankato defense lawyer James Joseph Kuettner said Hedlund’s acts are “unspeakable and untenable. Mr. Hedlund let his children and himself down. When raised, he was taught a perverse love by his parents and that it the normal and right thing to do.”

Hedlund apologized for his actions.

“I know I’ve caused a lot of pain and trauma. I’m sorry and remorseful. I ask for forgiveness for what I’ve done,” said Hedlund.

Hedlund’s conditional release after confinement was set at 10 years for the first count and 99 years for the second count of the criminal sex case.

He must register as a predatory offender, pay restitution that is kept open, and have no contact with the victims or their family.

In his second case, Hedlund was convicted of two counts of felony third-degree assault-past pattern of child abuse.

Dismissed charges included third-degree assault-victim under age 4, two counts of malicious punishment of a child under age 4, malicious punishment of a child-substantial bodily harm, two counts of malicious punishment of a child-less than substantial bodily harm, and four counts of neglect of a child-results in substantial physical/emotional health.

Hedlund was sentenced to at least 16 months and two days in the St. Cloud prison with a maximum of two years supervised release. His sentencing orders were delayed two days due to the need to determine final sentencing details.