Rochester man sentenced for soliciting pre-teen boy

ROCHESTER — A Rochester man was sentenced on Monday for soliciting a 12-year-old boy four years ago.

Steven Joseph Wolfe, 54, was charged with one felony count of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct and one felony count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Olmsted County District Court. He pleaded guilty to soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct, in exchange the prosecution dismissed the second count.

“Because of Mr. Wolfe, they lost the innocence of their childhood,” the mother of the minor said while reading her victim impact statement.

District Judge Pam King sentenced him to 20 days in jail, a $900 fine and probation for up to five years. As part of his probation conditions, Wolfe must enter into individual therapy, stay at least two blocks away from the residence of the minor at all times and not go to any high schools in the area.

Wolfe will not enter sex offender treatment because the doctors who performed the psychosexual evaluation did not recommend it. King said sex offender treatment is not “one-size-fits-all.”

“Probation needs to be tailored to the individual that comes before me,” King said during the hearing.

According to the criminal complaint, During a December 2022 investigation by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office into potential sexual abuse, a boy told deputies that Wolfe had propositioned him to perform sexual acts at an Olmsted County home approximately two years earlier.

The complaint and charges do not allege physical contact between the boy and Wolfe.

The child would have been 12 at the time.

Those experiencing sexual exploitation can call a 24-hour crisis line at 507-289-0636 to speak to someone who can direct you towards help.

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