Former teacher, basketball coach indicted for sexually assaulting children
MINNEAPOLIS — A former basketball coach and Minneapolis school teacher was indicted by a grand jury Thursday for allegedly assaulting several of his students and players over the course of eight years.
Aaron Hjermstad faces 12 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration of 12 different victims who were all under the age of 13. The Department of Justice says he coached many of the children or one of their relatives at Hospitality Youth Development and Harvest Best Academy, and was also a physical education and health teacher at The Mastery School.
The assaults happened between 2013 and 2021, the DOJ said.
Hjermstad is already in prison on a 12-year sentence for sexually assaulting four boys, the DOJ said. Before he was sentenced, he fled the state but was pulled over in December of 2021 in Idaho.
When he was pulled over, law enforcement found thousands of videos of him assaulting children, including the 12 victims, and handed the case over to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
"Hjermstad intentionally harmed children who had every right to trust him as their teacher and coach. We will seek lengthy prison sentences to keep children in our community safe," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.
Each count carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Harvest Best Academy released a statement saying the indictment was "deeply disturbing."
"Harvest Best Academy is heartbroken by the harm Aaron Hjermstad has caused to our students and other victims. These new charges are an important step in holding him accountable and ensuring that justice is served," the academy said.
Hjermstad was a volunteer basketball coach from 2015 to 2020 at the school, and was never employed, Harvest Best Academy said. The possible victims, they said, were not students at the school.
"We are actively gathering facts, but our hearts go out to everyone affected by these alleged heinous acts," the statement goes on to say.
The attorney's office and bureau of criminal apprehension encourage anyone who was a victim of Hjermstad to come forward to ensure victims receive the necessary support and resources.
Christy Shannon, the executive director for CornerHouse, which provides resources for families and works to prevent and end abuse, says it's important to have a direct line of communication with kids.
"Establishing that open communication and that trust, just as part of your communication or parenting style," Shannon said. She also recommended having a safe word children can say when they're feeling uncomfortable.
With that line of communication going, Shannon says if parents suspect something is wrong, they should bring it up with their children.
"Just asking them to share whatever they want to and listening, and just seeing what they say," she suggested.
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If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.