Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man was sentenced after a felony privacy case involving a teenage girl. Matthew Alan Kessel, 38, was sentenced March 30 in Pennington County District Court.
Sentence Ordered by the Court
Kessel was convicted of interference with privacy. The court gave him a 12-month prison sentence. That sentence was stayed for two years. He also must serve 30 days in jail.
He was placed on supervised probation for two years. Work release and Sentence to Serve were allowed if he qualifies. He also must pay $385 in fees and fines.
The court ordered Kessel to have no contact with the victim. He also cannot have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18. Any exception must be approved by his supervising agent or treatment team.
Kessel also cannot use the internet without approval. He cannot possess sexually explicit material. He must complete a psychosexual evaluation and a psychiatric evaluation. He also must take part in therapy as part of treatment.
The court also banned him from possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives. He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample.
What the Complaint Says Happened
According to the complaint, the case began with a July 12 report. A teenage girl said she told Kessel she planned to shower. While in the shower, she said she saw someone at the window.
The girl said she noticed a distinctive shoulder tattoo. She believed the person outside was Kessel. After she left the bathroom, she said Kessel followed her to her bedroom. She said he told her not to tell anyone.
The girl then went to the living room and told her mother what happened. She recorded that exchange. When confronted, Kessel apologized. He said he knew his actions were wrong. He also asked them not to tell anyone else.
The complaint says Kessel later made inappropriate remarks to the girl. The next morning, the woman spoke with him again. He said he did not want to go to jail. He also made statements about harming himself.
Evidence Noted by Investigators
Investigators later went to Kessel’s home. They saw that the bathroom window was about six feet off the ground. An eight-foot ladder was found near the house.
They also saw dirt and weeds on the ladder’s feet. That plant material appeared to match the flowerbed below the bathroom window. An investigator said he could see into the bathroom when the ladder was placed below the window.
For court information, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch. For county information, visit Pennington County.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
30 days! Give me a fucking break! Oh and add some treatment and probation stuff because that creates revenue for the state.. the system failed this victim