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BRIEF: Anoka County jury acquits teacher of molestation charges

Star Tribune - 11/3/2017

Nov. 03--An Anoka County jury acquitted a Blaine teacher of molestation charges following a week long trial.

Kenneth Sonnenfeld Jr., 54, of Oak Grove was charged last year with second-degree criminal sexual conduct after a 10-year-old student of Johnsville Elementary school accused him of touching her several while she stood at his desk during his fourth grade class from December 2014 to May 2015.

The jury deliberated for about two hours before returning a not-guilty verdict last Friday, said Sonnenfeld's attorney, Joe Friedberg.

Sonnenfeld denied molesting the girl. Friedberg said he argued to the jury that the prosecution had no corroboration to support the 4th-grade student's allegations. He said investigators failed to interview any other student in the class.

"I definitely accused the [investigator] of being negligent," Friedberg said.

Sonnenfeld had been placed on leave following the charges. A spokesman for the Anoka-Hennepin School District said he remains on leave, but is unable to share any other information about the teacher due to Minnesota's open records law.

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