NEW ULM — After more than two hours of witness testimony, Judge Allison Krehbiel took the resentencing of Eric Gramentz under advisement in Brown County District Court Monday.

On Feb. 26, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed and remanded (sent back) an April 2023 Brown County District Court sentencing decision of former New Ulm Police investigator Eric Alan Gramentz.

In January 2023, Gramentz pleaded guilty to first-degree felony criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree felony criminal sexual conduct with two girls.

An eight year prison sentence was suspended if Gramentz followed probation terms of sex offender program completion, having no unsupervised contact with minors and registering as a predatory offender.

Gramentz was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 25 years supervised probation. Terms included completing a sex offender program and having no unsupervised contact with minors.

Scott County prosecutors appealed the judge’s decision.

“Because the district court did not identify substantial and compelling reasons to depart from the presumptive prison sentence, we reverse and remand for resentencing,” read the Court of Appeals Nonprecedential Opinion.

“We express no opinion as to the appropriate sentence on remand,” read the Court of Appeals decision.

A presentence investigation showed Gramentz had no criminal history, appeared to show remorse for the victims and participated in a psychosexual evaluation, which recommended treatment.

On Monday, Mankato defense attorney Patrick J. Casey said vehemently disagreed with the Court of Appeals decision and said Gramentz has been a model in probation and treatment and has supportive family and friends.

Gramentz’ Meeker County Corrections Agent Jared Taber said he meets with Gramentz several times a month and his risk was determined to be below average.

“He’s making satisfying sex offender treatment progress, not missing any individual or group sessions and providing constructive feedback to other group members. He’s working full-time as a parts supplier,” Taber said.

He said Gramentz’ tablet computer is being monitored but it has not shown potential violation levels so he did not request a computer search and that he never suspected the need for a chemical use test of Gramentz.

“I have absolutely has no probation compliance concerns with Eric Gramentz,” said Taber.

Mental health and sex offender therapist Shelby Kirkwold testified she meets at least once a month with Gramentz and that his therapy is progressing well. She said aftercare treatment follows sex offender therapy that included passing a polygraph test.

Brown County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Andrew Konechne testified Gramentz admitted in an interview to achieving “some arousal” from child porn in an online chat room but testified Gramentz said he deleted Snapchat (a multimedia instant messaging app) from his phone.

Konechne testified it affects public trust when law enforcement officers are convicted of a crime.

“Sometimes, we’re (law enforcement officers) are all seen in the same light, which can make my job more difficult,” Konechne said.

Under questioning from Assistant Scott County Attorney Debra J. Lund, Konechne said the case’s effect on the community “is pretty severe, one of the worst ones we could encounter.”

Gramentz apologized for his actions including his family and friends for their support and to his co-workers.

Attorney Patrick Casey asked the Court for a stay of execution.

“This has been a marathon of hearings. My client has shown remorse and is particularly amenable (agreeable) to it,” said Casey.

Assistant Scott County Attorney Debra J. Lund asked for sentence guidelines to be followed in the case and said Gramentz should go to prison.