Clergy Sexual Abuse in Minnesota
In 2013, Minnesota enacted the Minnesota Child Victims Act – a law that allowed victims of child sexual abuse a three-year window to file a civil lawsuit, giving survivors who were previously told it was too late to come forward a second chance. This law gave survivors an opportunity to seek hope, healing, and justice, but it was only open for three years and expired in 2016. However, it’s important for Minnesota survivors of sexual abuse to understand that they still have rights and may be able to bring a claim under Minnesota law.
If you were sexually abused by a priest, counselor, teacher, coach, or other trusted adult in Minnesota, we want to help you. Contact us confidentially today.
Legal Victories in Minnesota for Survivors
Groundbreaking legal victories in Minnesota have paved the way for survivors to hold institutions accountable. In a landmark decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Harvest Best Academy can be held liable for its role in enabling the sexual abuse of a student by former coach Aaron Hjermstad. This decision sets a powerful precedent for school-abuse cases statewide, reinforcing that victims of Minnesota sexual abuse can seek justice not only against perpetrators, but also the institutions that failed to protect them.
Harvest Best Academy and the Fight for Accountability
For years, students at Harvest Best Academy, The Mastery School, and Best Academy – all under the Harvest Best Academy umbrella – suffered horrific sexual abuse at the hands of trusted educators like Aaron Hjermstad and Abdul Wright. Hjermstad, a former physical education teacher and basketball coach, sexually abused numerous children, despite a documented history of inappropriate conduct. Hjermstad is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for sexually abusing minors, and may be facing additional, new charges that recently came to light. Similarly, Abdul Wright, a teacher once celebrated as Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year, used his position to groom and exploit a student.
Aaron Hjermstad: Grooming and Abuse in Minnesota Schools
Aaron Hjermstad’s crimes extended far beyond a single institution, revealing how predators exploit their roles to gain trust and access to children. Our Minnesota sexual abuse lawyers and advocates fought tirelessly to expose the truth and bring accountability to those who enabled his abuse. Read more about Hjermstad’s lawsuit and how we helped survivors get justice.
Abdul Wright: The Trusted Educator Turned Predator
Wright leveraged his award-winning reputation to manipulate and abuse a vulnerable student. Survivors who spoke out have shown that Minnesota clergy abuse and school-based abuse share a common thread: trusted adults who exploit their authority.
Justice for Survivors at Children’s Theatre Company
At the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, decades of abuse by trusted figures, including founder John Clark Donahue and actor Jason McLean, shattered the lives of young actors and students. Survivors who bravely stepped forward in recent years have finally reached historic settlements, holding Children’s Theatre Company accountable and ensuring a safer environment for future generations.
Decades of Institutional Silence and Survivor Courage
Survivors of abuse at Children’s Theatre Company have shown that healing and accountability can happen, even decades after the abuse. Their courage highlights how survivors of Minnesota sexual abuse can come forward and demand justice.
If a person sexually abused you in a position of authority employed by a catholic church, catholic school, public school, or private school, we want to help. Contact us confidentially today.
Abuse in Minnesota Camps and Arts Communities
Sexual abuse in Minnesota extends beyond schools and churches. There are many different forms and places where sexual abuse can and has taken place.
Circle R Ranch: Years of Unchecked Access to Children
At Circle R Ranch, a horse camp in Long Prairie, convicted child abuser Scott Francis Fortier was granted unfettered access to young girls for decades. Fortier’s predatory behavior and the camp’s failure to act despite clear warnings reveal the danger of institutional silence and neglect.
Despite repeated warnings, Circle R Ranch allowed Fortier to continue working at the camp and interacting with children. Recent survivors’ stories highlight the importance of exposing these failures and supporting others who may have been abused in Minnesota camps.
Anoka Middle School for the Arts: Abuse by a Trusted Mentor
Similarly, at Anoka Middle School for the Arts, former teacher and theater director Jefferson Jerome Fietek sexually abused students for years.
If you or someone you know was a victim of abuse in the Minnesota camps and art communities, reach out to us today for help.
The Ongoing Fight Against Minnesota Clergy Abuse
While the Minnesota Child Victims Act helped many survivors of Minnesota clergy abuse take legal action, too many cases of abuse by priests, clergy, and religious leaders remain unspoken. Our sexual abuse lawyers are committed to exposing clergy sexual abuse in Minnesota and ensuring that survivors can hold churches and religious institutions responsible.
How a Minnesota Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
At Jeff Anderson & Associates, we know the pain and courage it takes to speak about sexual abuse. If you or someone you love has been abused in Minnesota – whether through clergy abuse, institutional failures, or trusted leaders who betrayed your trust – you have the right to explore your legal options. Our team is dedicated to listening, supporting, and pursuing justice with compassion and expertise.
Every survivor’s story is unique. While legal victories cannot undo the past, they can provide a measure of justice and open doors to healing. Our goal is to create safe spaces for survivors to tell their stories, reclaim their dignity, and find hope for the future.
Contact us confidentially today to learn how you can reclaim your voice and your power. Together, we can work to ensure that those who allowed this abuse are finally held accountable.
Notable Offenders
Michael Jerome Keating
Father Michael Jerome Keating Ph.D. was ordained in 2002 by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Father Keatin … more
Robert Zasacki
Father Robert Zasacki, DOB 05/13/40, was ordained in 1967. He served at several parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapo … more
Fr. Thomas Duane
On March 13, 2015, Father Thomas Duane’s name and priest file was publicly released.
Father Duane worked in several pa … more
Harold Mountain
Father Harold Mountain was ordained in 1942 and worked in parishes throughout Southern Minnesota until his retirement in 1989. … more
Fr. Edward F. Beutner
1965: Ordination
1966: Middle River Sanatorium, Superior, WI (SUP)
1966–1968: Cathedral of Christ the Kin … more
Church Officials
Archbishop John Nienstedt
On April 2, 2014, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt was questioned under oath in a civil … more
Father Kevin McDonough
Father Kevin McDonough was ordained in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 1980. As Chancellor and Vicar General … more
Archbishop Robert Carlson
Ordained in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Archbishop Robert Carlson spent the first twenty years of his c … more
Father Peter Laird
Father Peter Laird was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 2009. In 2013 Laird resigned from his position … more
Archbishop Harry Flynn
Archbishop Harry Flynn is one of the most knowledgeable church officials regarding priests accused of the sexual abuse of min … more
