Former youth basketball coach charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct

Tommy Wiita

[Hennepin County ]

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday that a former youth basketball coach has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct following the reexamination of a 2015 case.

Court records show 41-year-old Aaron Hjermstad, of Brooklyn Center, was charged after the case was reevaluated. He also faces criminal sexual conduct charges in two other cases.

Hjermstad’s next scheduled court appearance is Friday afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 6, 2015, a middle school-age male victim told police that Hjermstad, his basketball coach at the time, inappropriately touched him. The victim stated that the incident happened following a Minnesota Timberwolves game when the victim was staying overnight at Hjermstad’s home. Investigators believe this happened between November or December 2014.

Additionally, the victim stated a second incident happened on March 27, 2015, when Hjermstad inappropriately interacted with the victim while at the former coach’s residence.

A teammate of the victim was also interviewed. He told authorities the victim had disclosed how Hjermstad sexually interacted with him, making the victim touch his former basketball coach inappropriately.

Former Brooklyn Center youth basketball coach charged in 2 criminal sexual conduct cases