Crookston ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A Crookston man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Court records show that 61-year-old Dale William Sorenson received his sentence on Friday, September 12th, at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.
Sorenson pleaded guilty to the charge in March. Three additional charges — felony second-degree criminal sexual contact, felony threats of violence, and gross misdemeanor fifth-degree assault — were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
The case dates back to September 25, 2023, when Crookston police responded to a local residence around 1 a.m. A woman arrived at the home in distress and was later transported to Riverview Hospital before undergoing a sexual assault exam at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.
According to court documents, the woman reported that Sorenson forced sexual contact after she fell asleep in a recliner at a friend’s home. She said Sorenson made threats, including to kill her husband if she resisted. She also reported fighting back, which resulted in injuries that caused bleeding on the head. Law enforcement noted apparent blood on Sorenson’s shirt when they later spoke with him.
Sorenson was sentenced to 120 months, with credit for 718 days already served in custody. Following his prison term, he will be on conditional release for the rest of his life. Prosecutors filed Sorenson’s prior conviction in support of the lifetime release conditions.
As part of the sentence, Sorenson must register as a predatory offender and comply with Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension guidelines. His employment will also be restricted, prohibiting him from working in health care, education, or positions involving vulnerable adults. The judge did not determine whether Sorenson should face civil commitment as a sexually dangerous person.
For more on Minnesota’s predatory offender registration requirements, see the Minnesota BCA resource.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Dale William Sorenson