Former West Fargo swim coach speaks out after prosecutors dismiss prison cost

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A former West Fargo swim coach is talking out for the primary time since prosecutors dismissed a prison cost in opposition to him, saying “justice has been served.”

Ronnie Hehn Jr. was charged initially with gross sexual imposition involving a minor underneath age 15 after his arrest in January 2024. But this week, the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a movement to dismiss the case, citing the sufferer’s household’s unwillingness to testify.

“I’d like the community to know that justice has been served and the prosecution did a thorough job looking through this case, and I believe we reached a just conclusion,” Hehn advised Valley News Live in an unique interview.

What occurred

According to police experiences, Hehn Jr. was arrested after authorities say he inappropriately touched the sufferer throughout a therapeutic massage following a swim lesson at a personal pool in an house complicated. The sufferer advised police Hehn Jr. inappropriately touched her in the course of the therapeutic massage.

Hehn denied the allegations from the beginning, telling police he by no means gave the sufferer a therapeutic massage in any respect.

The protection’s rationalization

In the unique interview, Hehn Jr. and his legal professional, Bruce Ringstrom, mentioned what police interpreted as inappropriate touching was really a specialised athletic coaching approach referred to as Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, or PNF.

“What Ronnie was doing at the time, during the entire episode, and was recorded on video, he was engaging in what is called PNF. That stands for Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation,” Ringstrom mentioned.

Hehn Jr. defined that PNF is “useful for athletes who need strength and mobility work without using traditional training. I think it’s very innovative, it can be low impact and safe.”

He mentioned he discovered the approach after struggling an harm whereas coaching for the 2012 Olympic trials.

“I suffered an injury that I never really recovered from before the 2012 trials, and it motivated me to learn more about injury prevention and treatment not only for myself but for the students I train to compete,” Hehn Jr. mentioned.

The surveillance video

Hehn Jr. mentioned he was conscious of the safety digicam within the pool space and positioned himself to be seen on digicam throughout all coaching periods.

“There’s a security camera in the corner, and I’m aware of what angles that camera picks up, and I’m able to position myself in the most visible location for that camera,” Hehn mentioned. “So all of my sessions are recorded, and I was confident that this was all on camera, and I was able to retrieve this video in order to exonerate myself.”

Hehn Jr. mentioned he instantly went to the property supervisor’s workplace after studying police had been referred to as and ensured they secured the video footage.

Ringstrom mentioned an professional reviewed the surveillance video as a part of the protection’s case preparation.

“Once we actually look at the evidence, once we look at what happened during that episode, which again was recorded, which was evaluated by an expert, where there’s evidence of innocence, we need to presume that people who are accused of crimes are innocent and let the process play out,” Ringstrom mentioned.

Why the case was dismissed

In a courtroom submitting Monday, Feb. 2, Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Van Horn wrote that the sufferer’s mom despatched a letter indicating she wouldn’t be current for trial. Van Horn acknowledged that with out the testimony of the sufferer and the sufferer’s household, the state couldn’t transfer ahead.

The movement says prosecutors had been unable to meaningfully put together for trial on account of an lack of ability to satisfy with the sufferer and the sufferer’s household. Van Horn wrote the testimony of those witnesses was important to the case and that he didn’t consider it’s applicable to proceed to hunt conviction by a trial course of.

A trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday, Feb. 3, however was canceled.

Ringstrom mentioned police didn’t seek the advice of an professional earlier than charging Hehn Jr.

“In watching the video, they did not consult an expert; they didn’t consult an expert in the beginning, they didn’t consult an expert at any time during the pendency of the case,” he mentioned. “So all they saw was a grown man performing what they regard as a bizarre technique. They simply never took the time to understand what was actually going on.”

Attorney: Dismissal had a number of causes

While prosecutors publicly cited the household’s unwillingness to testify as the rationale for dismissal, Ringstrom believes there have been different elements.

“I understand that they made an internal decision to dismiss this. They made a public justification for it which was that the family of the accuser didn’t want to participate,” Ringstrom mentioned. “I firmly believe their internal reasons as to why they made a decision to dismiss has a lot to do with Ronnie’s innocence, it has a lot to do with the defense that me and my law partners put together.”

Ringstrom mentioned the character of the dismissal means any try and refile expenses could be problematic.

“Given the nature of the dismissal and the record that the state made and the record that the court made, if this were to be recharged later, that would be a major due process violation,” he mentioned.

He added: “I have every reason to expect that this case’s dismissal represents finality in this case.”

Dismissal vs. acquittal

The case’s dismissal shouldn’t be the identical as an acquittal. The case was not determined by a decide or jury. It ended as a result of witnesses wouldn’t take part within the trial.

The Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office declined Valley News Live’s request for an interview, with State’s Attorney Kim Hegvik saying in an electronic mail: “We appreciate your interest in the case, but we will not be participating in interviews or providing additional statements at this time.”

Impact on Hehn Jr. and his household

Hehn mentioned the previous 12 months has taken a major toll on him and his family members.

“It’s caused a lot of trauma for the people in my life, and I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of them and trying to restore their lives as well. It’s been hard on all of us,” he mentioned.

He credited his help system for serving to him by the ordeal.

“Through hard times we really find out who those important people are in our lives and I’ve been fortunate to have just a solid group of people in my life support me throughout this and I’m very thankful,” Hehn Jr. mentioned.

Plans to return to teaching

Despite the cost and the controversy, Hehn Jr. says he plans to return to teaching.

“I’d like to continue focusing on my career, training people, training myself. I think I have a lot more potential athletically and professionally that I’d like to show the community,” he mentioned. “I look forward to building up a client base again and helping more students prepare to perform at their best.”

Hehn mentioned he has not been in a position to make use of a pool up to now 12 months however appears to be like ahead to getting again within the water.

“I’ve been training in a gym the past year. I haven’t been able to use a pool, but I look forward to getting back in a pool,” he mentioned.

When requested what he would say to oldsters who might need issues, Hehn mentioned he wished the household had contacted him earlier than calling police.

“I would just keep the line of communication open. I really wish that the family had reached out to me prior to contacting police,” he mentioned.

What’s subsequent

Cass County courtroom information present the felony cost in opposition to Hehn Jr. has been formally dismissed.

Ringstrom emphasised the significance of presuming innocence.

“It’s important for the public to understand there’s so much more going on underneath the surface of this case,” he mentioned. “Because the publicly available document is a narrative that makes Ronald Hehn Jr. look very guilty. But once we actually look at the evidence, once we look at what happened during that episode, which again was recorded, which was evaluated by an expert, where there’s evidence of innocence, we need to presume that people who are accused of crimes are innocent and let the process play out.”

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