Clear Lake man sentenced for sex assault of a minor

The Sherburne County Attorney’s Office says that Shawn Alan Shaney was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 15.

Shaney, a 54-year-old man from Clear Lake, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct and prosecutors had asked for a more severe sentence than probation.

Authorities say that forensic cell phone analysis revealed Shaney contacted the underage girl more than 5,400 times in just over one month.

Judge Walter Kaminsky granted an upward departure demanding prison time due to the vulnerability of the victim, who was in a foster home.