ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Stewartville man has lost his appeal on a sex abuse conviction.
Jonathan David Janssen, 41, was convicted in July 2016 of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to 12 years in state prison. Authorities say he sexually abused a 12-year-old girl several times in 2013.
Janssen appealed his conviction, arguing a juror at his Olmsted County trial should have been dismissed when the juror said both of his ex-wives had been victims of sexual assault, and that the testimony of a second girl who accused Janssen of sex abuse should not have been admitted at his trial.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals has rejected both of those arguments. It rules the juror was property instructed by the judge and promised to follow the rules instead of his emotions. The Court also says the second girl’s testimony was credible and did not unfairly sway the jury against Janssen.
Janssen will remain in the state correctional facility at Moose Lake.
