Trending
NEW ULM -- A 42-year-old New Ulm man who originally faced 22 charges including criminal sexual conduct, assault, malicious punishment of a child and child neglect earlier this year, made a plea deal Tuesday in Brown County District Court.
Jesse C. Hedlund pled guilty to felony 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct, an amended count of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of 3rd-degree assault-past pattern of child abuse.
Hedlund's conditional bail was revoked. Unconditional bail remains at $300,000. Sentencing was set for 11:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
According to court documents, New Ulm Police Senior Investigator Jeff Hohensee received a child protection summary report of sexual assaults by Hedlund with 12, 10 and eight-year-old juveniles he had significant relationships with between Jan. 1, 2019 and Jan. 17, 2023.
A forensic interview with the juveniles said Hedlund disrobed them, touched them sexually and threatened them not to tell anyone.
Juveniles said punishment from Hedlund included writing many sentences of "not being accountable" and being hit in the head with a wooden spoon.
At the plea hearing Tuesday, Hedlund admitted to punishing the children by making them write sentences on paper. He also admitted to hitting them on the head with a broken, wooden spoon and to using "unreasonable force" on young children. Hedlund also admitted to touching the children's private parts and that one of the children had bruises all over his face and head.