Three Questions Answered by Candidates for South Washington County ISD833 Election

At Washington County Watchdog we try to cut through the fluff  and get straight answers. The Woodbury, Cottage Grove and surrounding area of South Washington County, ISD 833 is holding an election for the school board in November. We had 3 questions for the 9 candidates. Only three candidates responded. There are four seats open and 3 of the candidates are incumbents. 

The local GOP republican party shows online they support three candidates:

-Bryn Forstner
-Juan Huerta
-Lori Peechia

They didn't pick a fourth, but it appears Chad Borseth also seemed aligned with pro school safety and true fiscal responsibility. For example, he supports having school board elections on even years. It's been proven to save other local school districts $100,000.   Chad states on his website that he didn't want party endorsement. 

Travis Allen Dahle, Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg and

here is:

--------------------------------------------Chad Borseth-------------------------------------------------------

1.) According to the South Washington County District 833 website the district

has 18,700 students with a budget of $260 million a year. The school district

website says they get $13,800 per student. In a class of 30 students that's

$414,000 per class. To the average voter it seems to be more than enough to run a

school. Yet the district says it is under funded by at least $500 per student. Do

you think the budget can be spent more wisely? If so, what is your biggest way to

specifically save money?

I haven’t yet had the chance to review the full financial documents in detail, but if the

numbers you cite are correct, they are concerning. It’s a reasonable question that any

current board member, with direct access to financial staff and documents—should be

able to explain clearly to stakeholders. Two specific approaches I would pursue are:

1. School-Based Cost Savings Plans: Require each principal to create and present

a cost-savings plan for their building that meets predetermined goals set by

district leadership. Departmental cost-saving targets are common in other

sectors, and there’s no reason our district leaders cannot do the same.

2. Leveraging Indirect Staff: Utilize the talents and teaching licensure of indirect

building and district staff to help address substitute shortages and support

instruction. Beyond saving money, this places staff closer to students, parents,

and teachers—giving them valuable firsthand experience they can bring back to

their regular roles to better serve the district.

2.) The school district website said that it lost 500 students. This loss seems to be

to private and charter schools. This seems fair considering the low achievement

scores. Such as only 53% of 3rd graders were proficient in reading and math.

What is your biggest way to improve scores in a specific way?

I strongly support school choice for families. Our community is fortunate to have

excellent public, private, and parochial schools, as well as two local public charters

ranked among the top five in Minnesota by U.S. News and World Report. My wife and I

chose this community eleven years ago because of diversity of school offerings, and we

were literally draw to an 833 district magnet school, Nuevas Fronteras. My priority will

always be strengthening our district schools, but I also want to build stronger

relationships with charter and private schools—learning from what they are doing well.

Specifically, I want to know how these schools are achieving both high academic results

and strong student engagement that leads to excellent attendance. Most importantly, we

need our community, staff, and leaders to once again value test scores. Too often

they’ve been delegitimized, and when that happens, it’s reasonable that students

themselves will not take them seriously. Raising expectations and restoring the value of

test scores is a key step toward improving results in our district.

3.) What are your top priorities and how would you specifically address each?

1. School safety has become an urgent concern in the wake of the recent tragedy

in Minneapolis. No family should worry whether their child will return home safely

from school. In 2023, our community approved funding for significant school

security upgrades; however, we can’t stop prioritizing school safety. We must

strengthen partnerships with local law enforcement to ensure school staff are

prepared to respond to emergencies.

2. Address Chronic Absenteeism - A thriving school district depends on students

being present and engaged in the classroom. Yet our attendance data tells a

troubling story. In the 2022–23 school year, chronic absenteeism rates were 20%

at East Ridge High School, 27.4% at Woodbury High School, and 36.1% at Park

High School. District-wide, the rate was 25.5% (Minnesota Department of

Education, n.d.). This problem is not new—it has persisted across several school

board election cycles. These numbers are unacceptable.

We must act with urgency to improve attendance and ensure that students are in

school, learning every day. Improving attendance starts with consistent best

practices at the school level. Policy should clearly dictate when attendance is

taken during class, and it must define the difference between “tardies” and

“absences.” Minnesota law requires students to attend school, and our schools

need to follow proper protocols for escalating truancy cases. At the same time,

the county must provide the support that schools and families need when truancy

issues arise.

3. Align School Board Races with General Elections for Higher Turnout and

Lower Costs - South Washington County School District remains one of the few

in Minnesota holding school board elections in odd-numbered years. This

off-cycle timing severely suppresses voter turnout—national studies show turnout

in off-cycle local elections can be up to half that of on-cycle elections held

alongside major contests.

In contrast, the vast majority of Minnesota districts have shifted to on-cycle

elections during even-numbered years, aligning with general elections to boost

participation and reduce administrative costs. By moving our elections on-cycle,

we can increase community engagement and ensure our school board truly

reflects the broader community—not just a narrow slice of voters or influential

special interest groups.

Financially, the cost for our district to maintain off-cycle elections is striking. For

example, in Edina, conducting off-cycle elections cost taxpayers upwards of

$150,000, whereas on-cycle elections (even years) are much less because they

happen alongside regular elections (Albertson-Grove, 2023). More recently, the

Wayzata school board voted to move to on-cycle elections starting in 2028

(Wayzata Public Schools Board, 2025), and is estimated to save roughly

$100,000 per election by making this change.

As a school board member, I will advocate to align our elections with even-year

cycles—joining the more than 90% of Minnesota school districts that have

already made the switch. Doing so would strengthen democratic participation,

reduce the influence of massive special interest group spending in our school

board races, eliminate wasteful spending, and enhance the legitimacy of our

governance.

 ----------------------------- Travis Allen Dahle---------------------

1.) According to the South Washington County District 833 website the district has 18,700 students with a budget of $260 million a year. The school district website says they get $13,800 per student. In a class of 30 students that's $414,000 per class. To the average voter it seems to be more than enough to run a school. Yet the district says it is under funded by at least $500 per student.  Do you think the budget can be spent more wisely? If so, what is your biggest way to specifically save money? 

Thank you for reaching out with your questions. I appreciate the opportunity to provide direct answers. Budget and Spending Yes, I believe the budget can be spent more wisely. A specific area for savings is administrative overhead. By streamlining central office operations and reducing duplication in non-classroom functions, more dollars can reach classrooms directly where they have the greatest impact. 

 

2.) The school district website said that it lost 500 students. This loss seems to be to private and charter schools. This seems fair considering the low achievement scores. Such as only 53% of 3rd graders were proficient in reading and math. What is your biggest way to improve scores in a specific way? 

Student Achievement To improve scores, my focus would be on strengthening early literacy. Research shows that strong reading skills by 3rd grade are the foundation for long-term success. Expanding evidence-based phonics instruction and ensuring early interventions for struggling readers are two concrete steps that can raise proficiency. 

 3. Top Priorities

1.) Academic Achievement: 

2.) Focus on reading and math fundamentals through proven instructional methods. 

 3.) Fiscal Responsibility: Direct more dollars into classrooms by reducing administrative costs. Parental Involvement: Strengthen communication and partnerships with parents, since engaged families improve student success. 

 

I believe these priorities, addressed with discipline and transparency, will help restore trust and improve outcomes for our students. 

 

Thank you again for the opportunity to respond. Best regards, Travis Allen Dahle

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg 

 Hello, thank you for this opportunity! 

 1.) According to the South Washington County District 833 website the district has 18,700 students with a budget of $260 million a year. The school district website says they get $13,800 per student. In a class of 30 students that's $414,000 per class. To the average voter it seems to be more than enough to run a school. Yet the district says it is under funded by at least $500 per student.  Do you think the budget can be spent more wisely? If so, what is your biggest way to specifically save money?  

As a board member, my highest priorities for South Washington County Schools’ budget include initiatives that positively impact students. Students' needs are best met by paying teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, mental health support staff, nutrition staff, and more. The staff in this district shape student experiences at school and build their community - they’re critical. We must use the budget to value staff with competitive rates so we retain their expertise and commitment to our community. I have attended many board meetings and listened to Director of Business Services, Kris Blackburn, discuss the district financial position. Given the inflationary environment (which will impact costs of everything from food to energy in our schools) and the instability with the state and federal budgets for education, the district has built up an adequate fund balance to bring some stability despite current challenges. 

 2.) The school district website said that it lost 500 students. This loss seems to be to private and charter schools. This seems fair considering the low achievement scores. Such as only 53% of 3rd graders were proficient in reading and math. What is your biggest way to improve scores in a specific way? 

 Nationwide standardized test scores have been trending downward for a decade or more. Students are more likely than ever to spend time on screens leading to an age of instant gratification and many read less often. I share concerns about declining reading scores. Specific steps SoWashCo schools are taking to address these concerns include developing cell phone policies in accordance with new state mandates - banning cell phones in middle schools and restricting them in the high schools. This is a promising start for students. Depending on the data from this policy change, that could be taken further at the high school level as well. Secondly, the READ Act training provided for all staff in the district during the 2024-25 school year should be leveraged. We need our teaching experts and staff to utilize these skills with students to continue to improve literacy. We may need to crowdsource some innovative ideas around literacy challenges, activities and ways that all staff can interact with students intentionally to work on improving literacy. 

 3.) What are your top priorities and how would you specifically address each? 

 Achievement Gap: The academic achievement gap in South Washington County demands our focus and persistence. My goal is to continue the long-term work of reducing the academic and opportunity gap for at-risk and students of color. We can even look to our students to partner with us and set amazing examples: ERHS Students Work to Close the Gap. Teacher Retention: High quality teachers and teacher retention improve student outcomes and help close achievement gaps. We want to retain these talented professionals for our students. As a board member, I will strongly advocate for organized labor and positive labor relations with district unionized staff. I am committed to ensuring fair wages and working conditions. I will embrace a strong partnership, constructive negotiations, and mutually beneficial solutions. We must continue to value the individuals committed to supporting and educating our students. Diverse Hiring Practices: The district must continue to invest in diverse hiring practices. It is critical that students see themselves reflected in and can connect with their teachers and school staff - currently in MN only ~5% of teachers identify as non-white.. I would advocate for unconscious bias training in hiring committees, diverse hiring committees, community partnerships, objective screening practices, and tracking metrics to ensure the district is meeting goals. 

 Website for more info: bockmanforschoolboard.org -Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg

Six Questions Senate District 47 Democrats Refused to Answer

 Senate District 47 in Woodbury must elect a new state representative after the democrat in office was convicted of felony burglary.  The primary for the democrats is August 26th. To read more check out the article: https://woodburynewsnet.org/4891/news/five-things-to-know-about-tuesdays-senate-primary-election/?utm_source=woodburynewsnet.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-roundabout&_bhlid=fea749b019705a1d1c4189bdaf5ddee423ad30fd

Here's the six questions the democrats refused to answer. We gave them over a week to respond.

1.) If elected, what type of bills will you write or help write (co-author)? 

2.) Last year there was an $18 billion dollar surplus. The democrat controlled Legislature responded by increasing spending by 38% the following year. Was this a good decision? Why?


3.) Do you support lowering taxes to help local residents? If yes, which taxes? 


4.)  We've visited the half billion dollar Gold line bus rapid transit line station stop in Woodbury multiple times during what would be peak usage. We share the pictures that over and over the ramp is empty except for 5 to 6 cars and empty buses. Ridership appears low. The Northstar commuter rail line is shutting down. Is it time to reconsider the planned expansion of the line further into Woodbury considering its apparent lack of use? 


5.) There are now over 20,000 convicted sex offenders living in Minnesota out of incarceration. Over 80% are child predators. Our research of each of the 50 states laws found Minnesota has the weakest laws https://wcwatchdog.blogspot.com/2017/09/watchdog-review-of-each-of-fifty-states.html For example 47 other states require public registration for citizens to know the names and addresses of every sex offender. Two other states don't but they have less than 5,000 sex offenders combined, and one of them requires lifetime registration. 26 states require lifetime registration. Only 363 level 3 MN sex offenders have their name and vicinity listed, but that's not very useful considering MN does not require lifetime registration.  Would you commit to supporting tougher laws on sex offenders? How?

6.) What else should voters know about your platform? 

Rampant Sex Crime on Children. 10 Cases From County Alone, 8 Simple Laws to Update

-------------------------

From Washington County alone we have uncovered ten cases of the horrible results of our completely broken Minnesota criminal justice system regarding child predators. 

We have 8 simple bill ideas for legislators that need your support. 

The citizen volunteers at WCW have been posting the public data on arrests and convictions of child predators; all while urging members of the legislature to improve MN law to combat this epidemic.

Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe  

We are making painstakingly slow progress despite having the facts, evidence, and common sense supporting. This needs awareness to motivate change. We're not the only one who have noticed. From Kare11: “We know of no other state in the union with sentencing as weak as Minnesota’s for child sexual exploitation.”Report: MN weak on protecting children from exploitation data from protect.org. Fortunately, it seems when the main stream media does a story on something tragic like a sex offender who is driving a bus up in Anoka MN... the news gets out, the public picks up the phone and calls the legislature, and the law changes for the better. Loophole allows sex offender to drive school bus

We hope the news of these 10 cases will help empower you to help contact legislators to get justice for the child victims and deter future child exploitation. Nothing else. We've got a total of four bipartisan bill ideas passed into law so far thanks to legislators like Matt Grossel (R), Cindy Pugh (R), Joann Ward (D), Kathy Sheran (D), Tony Cornish (R), and Tim Miller (R). However; not a single new has passed or existing law improved since 2017. It's shocking and embarrassing. We contacted every member of the House public safety committee asking them if anything has changed to improve child predator laws and not one could correct us.

All of our 8 bill ideas exist as law in most other States; however, none of them have been getting traction. No we're not lobbyists, no we don't have (or want) a budget, all we are is just citizens and parents like you. One of whom's child was a victim of one of the previously convicted child predators in Washington County.

Legislators please see the detailed list of the 8 bill ideas with reference to the exact existing law to update. They couldn't be easier bills to write.

Politicians are politicians. No mater what political party, they are great at looking you in the eye and saying they'll help write your idea to a bill and try to get it passed into law. They'll say they will work on your idea to make Minnesota the 24th state to require sex offenders to register for life and then do nothing.

Why do stupid ideas make it to law and great bi-partisan bill ideas to get justice for children who are sexually assaulted do not? The answer is simple. Aside from having paid special interest at the legislature like the MN film industry... you need to have an idea that is being called on by the public. Overall, the public has no clue how bad sex offender law in MN is. Even we had no idea, until it hits you like a ton of bricks when your child is sexually assaulted and the child rapist essentially walks free. 

You can tell law makers about your child being violently sexually assaulted and give them the exact law to fix to prevent it from happening to someone else's child; but they are unmotivated it seems until the public catches on. One example of many horror stories, we emailed them about of a recently convicted rapist in Woodbury who admitted unapologetic to police he raped a 13 year old girl "over 130 times;" but was only sentenced to 8 years. Convicted of having a significant relationship with someone under 16 and not child rape as he probably should have been tried. His name is Eric Duncan, DOB 8-31-1984; but you won't find him if you google his name... The legislature and the media ignore this news. You won't find any of the following cases in the news.

Please follow our Facebook page and share our articles to grow public awareness and support to change Minnesota's weak child rape laws.

​

1.)
Marques Williams of Stillwater, was recently convicted with DNA proof, of raping a 15 year old child. He lives by two Stillwater Schools. He was sentenced to only 90 days in jail; just a $50 fine, 5 years of probation, and to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The county ignores requests to provide details as to what happens with all these cases like this with offenders getting weak punishments. Are they giving out plea deals to avoid a trial? Is it weak charges? Is it weak sentencing guidelines? If so what are they doing to increase the punishment? email our elected county attorney, Pete.Orput@co.washington.mn.us, and if you get a response let us know through our facebook page. We highly respect the County and the difficult job they have. It is unfortunate they do not communicate with the public or legislators on what laws could be changed.

2.)
Michael John Quesnel, of Hugo MN, convicted of violent sexual assault on 4-19 to the point of vaginal bleeding on a 3 year old with cerebral Palsy. Only received 7.5 years in prison with over a year credit for time served. Only has to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Write your legislators to change sentencing guidelines and increase severity of punishment for child predators like this.












3.)

Jeremiah Turner of Cottage Grove, Convicted of raping a deaf 15 year old child. In the criminal complaint it states he held down and sexually assaulted the child. The victim's disturbing account of the incident is horrifying... unfortunately the county attorney's office decided to only charge him with "Significant Relationship, victim under 16" instead of child rape. 

4.) 

Only 3.5 Years for Man Who Held Down & Raped Bayport Child While Taunting Her 

5.)

Homicidal Rapist in Forest Lake Found With Child Porn Who Self Recorded Rape Now Convicted, Only 4 years  

6.)

Man Who Gang Raped Woodbury Child Only Gets 5 years Probation and 10 Months Prison

7.)

He Muffled Her Screams and Raped Oakdale Child, Only 90 Days in Jail and Probation for Man From Mahtomedi

8.)

Convicted Child Rapist Only Got Probation and Now Charged with Child and Adult Rape

Convicted child rapist, Justin Martin Ramos, was arrested October 1st at the Key Inn located in Woodbury from a warrant that was out related to a new child rape and a young adult rape case. The first child he was convicted of raping was a 14 year old in 2015. He didn't spend a day in prison, only 69 days credit for time served in Jail while likely awaiting a bail hearing or funds to get bailed out before trial it appears from public state records. For this crime he only received this time served and 5 years probation because of weak MN sentencing guidelines that only legislators have the power to change.

9.)

Only 30 Days in Jail and Probation for Child Molester Who Had Sex with Lake Elmo Child 


10.) 

Man Who Repeatedly Raped a Child in Oakdale, Raped another Child While on Probation and Will be Out in 2 Years

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's data allows the public to decide from the evidence if they appreciate knowing such data. Such as what these sex offender's last known address is. No representation is made that the individuals listed here are currently on the state's offenders registry. All names presented here were gathered at a past date. Some persons listed might no longer be registered offenders and others might have been added. Some addresses or other data might no longer be current. Owners of Washington County Watchdog assume no responsibility (and expressly disclaim responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. All data was only accurate at the time of posting per Government sources provided. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any data presented on this site. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Message us if you can verify us of an address or change in data.  Washington County Watchdog is not responsible for the accuracy of the content shared, refer to our linked government sources. 

​

Hugo Man Violently Rapes Child, Only Gets 1 year in Jail and 2 years Probation.

According to official criminal complaint: in November of 2018 a 15 year old child reported she was sexually assaulted by a man she had just met at his house at 5030 165th Street North Hugo, MN 55038. The child identified the man as Jeret Joeseph Olson. The report states the man communicated several times with the child leading up to the rape. On the day in question he brought her to his house where he began grabbing the child's private parts. The child told Olson she was only 15 and did not want to be touched. His response was he forced himself on her telling her stating "It's not your choice" and exposed himself and said to her to "do your job" as he proceeded to sexual assault and rape the child. When police followed up to speak with Olson he admitted to being with the child and they had consensual intercourse. 

Washington county prosecutors charged Jeret Joeseph Olson with only third degree criminal sexual conduct. He was convicted and got 1 year in Jail and 2 years probation where most felons only do 2/3rds of their probation if they follow the terms. This happens over and over in Washington County where prosecutors appear to be capable of charging a child rapist with 1st or 2nd degree child rape, but only charge with 3rd degree. What's worse is Minnesota law has very weak sentences. Even if he was charged and convicted of first degree child rape he would have likely only got 2 or 3 years in jail.  According to a new public safety tool by the nationally active child advocacy group Protect.org, Washington County ranks last in the metro and 50th in the state for strength of prosecution of child exploitation according to the non-partisan site. See the detailed data, for over ten years, the safety tool shows about any of the 87 counties in MN at https://protect.org/safetytool/      

See some of the many cases in the last several years of those convicted of supposedly harsh 1st or 2nd degree rape from Washington County:

Homicidal Rapist in Forest Lake Found With Child Porn Who Self Recorded Rape Now Convicted, Only 4 years  

Only 30 Days in Jail and Probation for Child Molester Who Had Sex with Lake Elmo Child 

Only a Year in Jail for Man who Gang Raped 14 Year Old Child in Woodbury

Man Who Repeatedly Raped a Child in Oakdale, Raped another Child While on Probation and Will be Out in 2 Years 

No Mandated Jail time for Convicted St Paul Park Man who Sexually Assaulted a Child  

Man Who Gang Raped Woodbury Child Only Gets 5 years Probation and 10 Months Prison 

Only 3.5 Years for Man Who Held Down & Raped Bayport Child While Taunting Her 

In Minnesota, law makers and prosecutors believe child rapists can be "rehabilitated," do not need to be monitored, and can become good members of society. The evidence is the fact only several hundred of the over 20,000 convicted rapists in Minnesota are confined in prison. Most only do a couple years and then are released without further monitoring. More information here:

Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe  

If you hope to see any law change, continue to contact law makers.

Find your legislator here: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

It's clear that just because a child rapist is charged or convicted, doesn't mean justice will be served after sentencing if convicted. Therefore, if the punishment for ALL criminal sexual conduct crimes is raised than weak charges and convictions will be stronger. With the raised bar there won't be a thing as an outrageous plea deal to lesser rape charges or a weak sentence.

Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like nearly every other State in the Country does. All but MN, DC, and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to over 20,000 in MN. 

DATE: 7/15/2021 

DEFENDANT: Jeret Joseph Olson 

DOB: 5/25/1999 

CITY/RESIDENCE: 

5030 165th Street N 

Hugo, MN 55038

AGENCY: Washington County Sheriff's Office 

JUDGE: Francis Green, III 

CONVICTION: CSC 3rd Degree 

STATE REQUEST: 365 days in jail, 60 days to serve, two years of probation. 

SENTENCE: Two years of probation, 365 days jail with 2 days credited and 45 days to serve, remainder of time stayed (320 days); Fine with surcharge and fees payable within 6 months; Restitution is left open for the period of probation in the event the victim incurs any out-of-pocket therapy or medication costs; No use alcohol or drugs; Submit to random testing; Obtain chemical dependency evaluation and follow recommendations; Complete cognitive skills evaluation; Maintain a suitable residence approved by probation officer and make no changes to address without prior approval; comply with predatory offender registration requirements; obtain permission from probation officer before leaving the state; notify spouse, immediate family members, significant other, employers, and/or landlord of sexual offending history and criminal record if directed by probation officer or therapist; submit to random inspections of electronic devices and storage devices and allow monitoring software to be installed; no unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 18, other than defendant's own children, unless approved by the court, a probation officer, or a therapist trained in treating sex offenders; Enter and complete outpatient sex offender treatment and aftercare and follow treatment recommendations; submit to polygraph testing as required by treatment program and/or probation officer; enter individual treatment to address anxiety and depression; no contact with victim, her family, residence, or workplace; $200 fine. Follow all standard terms of probation including probation recommendations 1) Follow all state and federal criminal laws; 2) Contact probation officer as directed; 3) Tell probation officer within 72 hours after any contact with law enforcement; 4) Tell probation officer within 72 hours if charged with new crime; 5) Tell probation officer within 72 hours if change of address, employment, or telephone number; 6) Cooperate with the search of person, residence, vehicle, workplace, property, and things as directed by probation officer; 7) Sign releases of information as directed; 8) Give a DNA sample when directed; 9) Obtain cognitive skills evaluation; 10) Advise agent prior to changing employment and/or residence, maintain a suitable residence approved by probation officer and make no changes in residence without prior approval. Defendant’s responsibility to report any address changes to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension if you are required to register as a Predatory Offender; 11) Predatory Offender registry required, pursuant to 243.166, Defendant shall comply with Predatory Offender Registration; 12) Obtain permission from agent before leaving the State; 13) Conditions, other, notify spouse, immediate family members, significant other, employers, and/or landlord of sexual offending history and criminal record if directed to by probation officer or therapist; 14) Submit to random searches, electronic devices and/or storage devices may be subject to random inspections and searches. Monitoring software may be installed on any electronic and/or storage devices at own expense. Complete the Computer and Internet Device Disclosure Form as directed by probation officer; 15) No unsupervised contact with persons under age 18, no unsupervised contact with minors under age 18, excluding his own children, unless approved by the Court, or probation officer and a therapist trained in the treatment of sex offenders; 16) Psychological-Sexual Evaluation, Follow recommendations of the Psychosexual Evaluation including enter and complete the formal out-patient sex offender after care and follow treatment recommendations. Treatment programs should be approved by probation officer prior to enrollment; 17) Submit to Polygraph Examinations as directed, submit to polygraph testing as required by treatment program and/or probation officer; 18) Chemical dependency evaluation/treatment, obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and follow all recommendation including after care; 19) Complete treatment, enter into individual treatment to address anxiety and depression, at the direction of supervising agent and/or sex offender treatment provider; 20) No contact with victim(s), no contact with the Victim, V.S., her family, her residence, and/or her workplace; 21) Restitution served, restitution remain open while defendant is on probation for any out of pocket therapy and medication costs; 22) Contact with probation, defendant shall contact probation within 48 hours of receiving this order; 23) no alcohol/controlled substance use, abstain from the use of all non-prescribed mood altering chemicals, including alcohol; 24) Random testing, submit to random urinalyses, and breathalyzers, at own expense, unless deemed unnecessary by supervising agent.

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's public data anyone can get allows the public to decide from the evidence if they appreciate knowing such data. Such as what these sex offender's last known address is. No representation is made that the individuals listed here are currently on the state's offenders registry. All names presented here were gathered at a past date. Some persons listed might no longer be registered offenders and others might have been added. Some addresses or other data might no longer be current. Owners of Washington County Watchdog assume no responsibility (and expressly disclaim responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. All data was only accurate at the time of posting per Government sources provided. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any data presented on this site. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Message us if you can verify us of an address or change in data.  Washington County Watchdog is not responsible for the accuracy of the content shared, refer to our linked government sources.     

Only a Few Years of Probation and Registration for Woodbury Man with Library of Child Porn

Steven Rask

In September of 2016, police conducted a search warrant of 9669 Bluegill Road Woodbury. The unassuming home near Target in Woodbury was owned and occupied by Steven Donald Rask. It is unknown if he continues to live here. The police found over 150 documents of child porn on multiple computers and hard drives. He appeared to cooperate with police and explained how he typically searched for his expanding collection of child porn on the dark web. The investigation took almost two years to go through all the child porn to determine the extent of the case. According to the criminal complaint, 41 of the child victims were recorded or known with the center for missing and exploited children. The child advocacy group Protect.org identifies Minnesota as a crisis area for child porn given the weakness of our current laws. Our recent article with them and their new safety tool for parents explains more how our weak laws feed this industry of child trafficking.  

In April of 2018 the Washington County prosecutors charged Steve Rask with only 3 counts of possessing child porn. The county has been known to charge with up to seven counts in one case in the last two years with a man that had hundreds and hundreds of files of child porn; however, as in this case, Pete Orput's County Attorney office gave the child predator a plea deal and all charges except one were dropped in exchange for one guilty plea. In December he was sentenced to just 5 years of probation and if he follows the terms of probation he will only do two thirds of the sentence. Is a few years probation enough? Is only a few years on the predatory offender registration going to keep the public safe? 

The fact is the predatory offender registration list is not public in Minnesota and the maximum time on the offender list is only 10 years. In extremely rare cases offenders are registered for life as a level three sex offenders, but are still held privately on the list with where their address is. Level one and two offenders can't even be looked up by the public and only two other states (Maine and D.C.) have laws that weak. But these states don't have over 20,000 sex offenders like MN. 

To see dozens of examples in the last two years of insane plea deals from Washington County prosecutors and the weak MN sex offender law letting the public down see: http://wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

In Minnesota, law makers and prosecutors believe child rapists can be "rehabilitated," do not need to be monitored, and can become good members of society. The evidence is the fact no bill has passed to make sex offender law more tough in the last two years. Also, Only several hundred of the over 20,000 convicted rapists in Minnesota are confined in prison. Most only do a couple years and then are released. More information here:

Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe  

If you hope to see any law change, continue to contact law makers, especially Senator Warren Limmer who has refused to pass the sex offender bills in his key special committee in the Senate. 

Find your legislator here: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

It's clear that just because a child rapist is charged or convicted, doesn't mean justice will be served after sentencing if convicted. Therefore, if the punishment for ALL criminal sexual conduct crimes is raised than weak charges and convictions will be stronger. With the raised bar there won't be a thing as an outrageous plea deal to lesser rape charges or a weak sentence.

Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like nearly every other State in the Country does. All but MN, DC, and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to over 20,000 in MN. 

DATE: 4/19/2018 

DEFENDANT: Steven Donald Rask 

DOB: 2/28/1950 

CITY/RESIDENCE:

9669 Bluegill Road Woodbury, MN 55125

MN AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

CHARGE: 

I: Possess Pornographic Work-Computer Disk/Electronic/Magnetic/Optical Image w/Porn; 

II: Possess Pornographic Work-Computer Disk/Electronic/Magnetic/Optical Image w/Porn; 

III: Possess Pornographic WorkComputer Disk/Electronic/Magnetic/Optical Image w/Porn 

DATE: 12/13/2018  

CONVICTION: Possess Child Porn 

SENTENCE: Stay of imposition; 5 years of probation; 45 days jail with 1 days credited

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's public data anyone can get allows the public to decide from the evidence if they appreciate knowing such data. Such as what these sex offender's last known address is. No representation is made that the individuals listed here are currently on the state's offenders registry. All names presented here were gathered at a past date. Some persons listed might no longer be registered offenders and others might have been added. Some addresses or other data might no longer be current. Owners of Washington County Watchdog assume no responsibility (and expressly disclaim responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. All data was only accurate at the time of posting per Government sources provided. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any data presented on this site. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Message us if you can verify us of an address or change in data.  Washington County Watchdog is not responsible for the accuracy of the content shared, refer to our linked government sources.