Former teacher, basketball coach charged with child sex abuse

MINNEAPOLIS — A former Minneapolis school basketball coach and teacher was indicted by a grand jury Thursday for allegedly assaulting several of his students and players over an eight-year period.

Aaron Hjermstad faces 12 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration of 12 separate victims, all under the age of 13. The Justice Department says he coached many of the children or one of their family members at Hospitality Youth Development and Harvest Best Academy, and was also a physical education and health teacher at The Mastery School.

According to the Justice Department, the attacks took place between 2013 and 2021.

Hjermstad is already serving a 12-year prison sentence for sexually abusing four boys, the DOJ said. He fled the state before being sentenced, but was apprehended in Idaho in December 2021.

When he was arrested, officers found thousands of videos of him attacking children, including the 12 victims. The case was turned 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 the children in our community safe,” said Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty.

In each case, the potential penalty is a maximum life sentence, with the possibility of early release.

The law firm and the Criminal Investigation Bureau encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime in Hjermstad to come forward so that victims can receive the necessary support and resources.

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If you know of a child who may have been exploited, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.