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

This is another article about the combined issue of weak charges, weak sentencing, and it all revolves around weak MN sex offender law. Over two dozen examples just like this and worse in just two years and in Washington  County alone. Check out http://wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/ and subscribe for free sex offender updates like this post.

Rapist, Alan Douglas Running, from Forest Lake, is finally behind bars... but only for

just over four years. With good behavior, even less time it appears. He will have the maximum of 10 years on the sex offender registration after release it looks like. The sentence alone is alarming. However, what's worse is how he remained free over 90% of the over a year it took to convict (this is common throughout the state). The only reason he spent 42 days in jail, as opposed to none, was because he had two conditional release violations and a total of three warrants out for his arrest during this period of time it appears. Yet time after time the judicial system and weak MN sex offender law let him back out. It appears it all started with the weak charges of only 3 degree criminal sexual conduct of a mentally impaired or helpless victim, stalking, and burglary. The final two charges were dropped to add insult to injury for the rape victim and rape victims across the state. The lawyer representing him was Kevin McHugh Morrison.

Read Criminal Complaint 1 and 2 on how an anonymous tip lead investigators to obtain a search warrant on Al Running in April of 2017 for his house and computers. Detectives were lead to a woman who had a restraining order on him for stalking her in 2015. He was convicted of violating that order in 2016. Police discovered videos Alan Running self recorded with hidden cameras he secretly placed inside her home. In one video he stated how he wanted to kill the woman for ruining his life. Another showed him sexually assaulting her when she was unconscious. He was arrested in June, two months after the discovery, and charged with only 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct, burglary, and stalking. Later, as investigators further searched the "over 100,000 files" of porn on his computer they found 2 files of child porn and confirmed the images were of real children with the center of missing and exploited children. They arrested him again and charged him with two counts of possessing child porn (innocent until proven guilty on those two counts).

If our weak laws and justice system can't detain a man who: video recorded himself raping a woman;
video recorded himself threatening to kill the victim;
broke into her home;
stalked her;
was found with child porn videos;
and violated condition of release twice... not to mention his criminal past of multiple DWIs and violating restraining order... What rapist can our system serve justice to?

It's a fact MN has the weakest sex offender laws in the Country:

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

The sex offender list is NOT public in MN; but 47 states do share the data. There are nearly 20,000 registered sex offenders in MN and only about 700 are level 3 offenders that you occasionally hear about moving into the "general area" of a city.

Last year and this year not one sex offender bill passed. Half the bills to make stronger sex offender laws were held back in the house. Senator Warren Limmer called them "non starters" and refused to discuss them in conference committee. The rest were killed in the Senate by the lead of Senator Limmer and Julie Rosen in conference committee. Both refused to comment so far.

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

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

It's clear that just because a homicidal rapist is convicted and sentenced to just 4 years, doesn't mean justice has been served. Therefore, if the punishment for ALL criminal sexual conduct crimes is raised than weak charges and convictions will be stronger. 

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

For the growing list of the last know location of convicted sex offenders in Washington County: 

Washington County Sex Offenders. Names, Photos, Addresses.

DEFENDANT: Alan Douglas Running 

AKA: Al Running, Alan Douglas, alface47

DOB: 9/9/1947 

CITY/RESIDENCE:

23877 Forest Drive N

#7

Forest Lake, MN 55025

MN AGENCY: Forest Lake Police Department 

DATE: 6/12/2017 

CHARGES:

I: Criminal Sex Conduct-3rd Degree-Victim Mental Impair/Helpless; 

II: Stalking - Pattern of Stalking Conduct; 

III: Burglary-2nd Degree-Dwelling 

Article in Forest Lake Times:

http://forestlaketimes.com/2017/06/28/man-charged-with-stalking-sex-crime/

DATE: 7/3/2017 

CHARGES: 

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

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

DATE: 7/25/2018
DEFENDANT: Alan Douglas Running
DOB: 9/9/1947
CITY/RESIDENCE: Forest Lake, MN
AGENCY: Forest Lake Police Department

JUDGE: Gary R. Schurrer
CONVICTION: Criminal Sex Conduct-3rd Degree
SENTENCE: Committed to the Commissioner of Corrections for 53 months; 42 days credited;

$50 fine with surcharge and fees;

Conviction History from BCA:

1/10/2000 Convicted Traffic - DUI - Alcohol or Controlled Substance - Definition - Gross Misdemeanor

1/10/2000 Convicted Traffic - DUI - Alcohol or Controlled Substance - Definition - Gross Misdemeanor

12/8/2009 Convicted Traffic - DWI - Operate Motor Vehicle - Alcohol Concentration 0.08 Within 2 Hours - Gross Misdemeanor

1/19/2011 Convicted Traffic-DL-Driving after cancellation-inimical to public safety - Gross Misdemeanor

7/11/2016 Convicted Harassment; Restraining Order - Violate Restraining Order - Misdemeanor

*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.    

Child Predator Caught in Woodbury gets Felony waived, No Sex Offender Registry, and Only 3 years Probation

In April 2016 Carl Gansen of South St. Paul was arrested at the Burger King in Woodbury attempting to meet who he thought was a 15 year old child according to the criminal complaint. He's one of over 30 men who have been caught by Washington County in child trafficking stings in the last few years. See: Washington County Child Prostitution Sting “Suspects” Names, Photos, and Addresses. Gansen is number 19 on the list.

According to the criminal complaint, Gansen wanted to pick the child up from school and pay her $100 for sex, but agreed to meet her at Burger King. He was notified the age of the child was 15 yet still continued. When he showed up to meet the child he was arrested and notified he was actually communicating with police. He was charged with "Engaging in Electronic Communication Relating or Describing Sexual Conduct with Child" MN 609.352.2a(2)

A year and a half later on October 25th, 2017 Gansen was convicted on this charge of sexual communication with a child and sentenced to just 3 years probation and will have to serve 90 days in in a work release program out of jail if he violates probation it appears. He was convicted on "stay of imposition" and according to MN law they explain it means if he completes the terms of his probation he will have his felony conviction downgraded to misdemeanor. That also means he will not be on the sex offender registry.  Lastly, he has to pay a $1,000 fine. For lack of a better term, he's getting his felony waived it appears.

What's disturbing, besides the weak sentence, is prior to mid 2016 the County would charge these child predators with soliciting a minor; however they stopped doing this after some of our all volunteer team at Washington County Watchdog got law makers to stiffen this law. Now convictions of child solicitation require sex offender registration (but only 10 year max). Unfortunately, the county now charges those caught in these stings with the now weaker charge of sexual communication with a child. When asked in January of 2017 the lead prosecutor Imran Ali stated the men would not plead guilty if their sentence included sex offender registration. We asked why going to trial was a problem when they're caught red handed in a sting with overwhelming evidence. He stated trials tie up the whole department, they're expensive, and you could see them walk with no punishment if they're found not guilty for any reason. 

The problem is further explained in our related article: Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe

The solution is in Minnesota law makers hands to make it so no sex crime against a child goes without mandated prison time and sex offender registration. Currently most child rapists rarely do more than a year in jail and no more than 10 years on the sex offender registry. See more about the solution here: Rampant Sex Crime on Children, in Just 2yrs, 10 Cases From County Alone, 8 Simple Laws to Update

For many more examples from Washington County of convicted sex offenders still on our streets see our other posts here:
wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

For the growing list of the last know location of convicted sex offenders in Washington County see: 

Washington County Sex Offenders. Names, Photos, Addresses.

Please Consider Helping Victims of Sexual Assault in Washington County with EmpowerSurvivors out of Stillwater. They are a 501(c3), every cent goes to the victims peer support. They also need office supplies for their location. See our post about them here:

http://wcwatchdog.blogspot.com/p/empowersurvivors.html

DATE: 10/25/2017 

DEFENDANT: Carl William Gansen 

DOB: 1/29/1983 

CITY/RESIDENCE: 

2200 Southview Boulevard

#305South St. Paul, MN 55075 

MN AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

JUDGE: Gary R. Schurrer 

CONVICTION: Engage in Electronic Communication Relating or Describing Sexual Conduct with Child 

SENTENCE: Stay of imposition, 3 years of probation. 90 days jail, 4 days credit, Sentence to Serve in/out-of-custody. Pay $1,000 fine within 90 days. Follow all standard terms of probation (only gets Jail if he fails to follow probation)

*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. 

Man Caught on Surveillance Fondling 13 y/o Child in Oakdale Fleet Farm now Charged

See more articles like this warning you of released sex offenders in our area: http://wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

He's now convicted. See:
Fleet Farm Fondler Convicted of Groping 13 y/o. In Rare Occurrence, No Plea Deal but Sentence Still Weak

-------------------------------------
Jesse Garrett Erdman of St. Paul was charged with 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct -Victim under 16 for "allegedly" touching all the private parts you can think of on a 13 year old female in the Oakdale Fleet Farm in Washington County in Late April 2017. He is related to the victim, but to protect the identity of the victim we have withheld what the familial relation is. 

According to the criminal complaint he was caught on video recorded surveillance allegedly stealing merchandise and fondling the child. From the report: 

"Law enforcement viewed store surveillance of the interactions between DEFENDANT ERDMAN and Victim 1, which showed: DEFENDANT ERDMAN walking through the store with his hand in the back pants pocket covering the buttocks of Victim 1; DEFENDANT ERDMAN kissing Victim 1 on the lips; DEFENDANT ERDMAN hitting Victim 1 on the buttocks multiple times over her clothing; DEFENDANT ERDMAN grabbing the genital area of Victim 1 over her clothes in a cupping and fondling manner; DEFENDANT ERDMAN's hand on the genital area of Victim 1 over her clothing;"

Date: 5/2/2017

Pic of Jesse Erdman, same DOB & city from public facebook

Jesse Garrett Erdman
DOB: 4/20/1989
Residence:
1461 Dale St NSt Paul, MN 55117
Agency: Oakdale PD
Charge: Criminal Sex Conduct-2nd Degree-Significant Relationship-Victim Under 16 yrs

Minnesota Statute: 609.343.1(g), with reference to: 609.343.2(a)

Maximum Sentence: 25 years and $35,000

Offense Level: Felony

Typically in cases like this the Washington County Attorney gives the accused child predator a plea deal. If for some reason Erdman was not offered a plea deal and he was trialed and convicted of this 2nd degree felony, based on past examples, he will likely only have a sentence of 2 years in prison, no fine, and the max allowed probation by law of only ten years and 10 years max allowed by law of sex offender registration. Yes the law says he could get 25 years; but sentencing guidelines dictate the sentence. It could say the punishment is the death penalty and he'd still only get 2 years if convicted because of sentencing guidelines.

Please check out our sex offender bill ideas and contact your legislators. Public awareness and contacting law makers is the only way to get them to change weak MN law:
http://wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

We encourage you to contact your legislators to fix the law; but most important is providing help to the local victims. Many groups are out there doing great work across the State. At WCW our focus is local, sharing Washington County related stories to emphasize the reality that sex crime is too common here. But our work doesn't help the shattered victims. So we highly recommend helping local victims through a local group called EmpowerSurvivors. They are a peer led 501(c3) non-profit group for those affected by sexual abuse. One of the many ways they help is by holding free weekly meetings in Stillwater as a safe place. They

also host free and private online support on their website and blog. The founder, Elizabeth Sullivan, is a survivor of child sexual abuse and has devoted her life to helping victims here in the Washington County area. Every cent donated goes to their mission of "survivors helping survivors." Their new location in downtown Stillwater could use office supplies such as a printer, pens, paper and more.  Of course any donation amount helps. You can also use Paypal for a one time gift.

While the public can find hope and security if laws and sentencing guidelines can improve; the victims of sex crime in Washington County are left shattered by the crime even if the offender is punished to the fullest extent of the law. Contact elected officials; but also consider the important step of supporting victims. Please consider donating to EmpowerSurvivors here in Washington County. Find out more at www.EmpowerSurvivors.net 

*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.