Youngster intercourse abuse case dismissed towards former West Fargo swim coach – InForum

FARGO — A decide has dismissed a

youngster intercourse abuse case

towards a former West Fargo High School ladies swimming coach.

At the request of prosecutors final week, Cass County Judge Reid Brady on Feb. 2 dismissed the gross sexual imposition case towards 40-year-old Ronald Lee Hehn Jr. The cost alleged he sexually assaulted a baby on Jan. 29, 2025, whereas he gave the woman a swimming lesson at a personal pool in Fargo.

Police claimed in court docket paperwork that video confirmed Hehn inappropriately touching the woman. No one else was within the pool space with Hehn and the kid, and he supplied to therapeutic massage her legs since they have been sore from coaching, in line with a police incident report.

Hehn advised police that “nothing out of the ordinary happened” with the kid and denied any allegations of sexual assault, in line with the report. His protection group argued, in line with court docket paperwork, that Hehn gave the kid a medical remedy according to customary bodily remedy practices.

His trial was scheduled to start Feb. 3, however Assistant Cass County State’s Attorney Jason Van Horn filed a movement on Feb. 2 to dismiss the case. The kid’s mom advised prosecutors she didn’t plan to look in court docket for trial, in line with the movement.

Van Horn stated in court docket paperwork that he was unable to satisfy with the kid and her household in preparation for the trial. The case can’t transfer ahead with out the “critical” testimony from the kid and her household, Van Horn wrote.

Hahn was a head ladies’s swimming coach for Concordia College from 2013 to 2014. He certified for the Olympic trials in 2008 and 2012 for the 100-meter breaststroke, in line with a Concordia information launch.

He additionally labored for West Fargo High School as a swimming coach till the district fired him in 2018. Facebook video confirmed a pupil struggling whereas swimming with weights round her waist, in line with Forum archives.

Hehn stated he realized the strategy from a former College Swim Coaches Association president, the article stated. The weights weren’t issued by the college and lifeguards stopped utilizing the follow

as a result of it appeared harmful,

West Fargo Public Schools stated in calling the coaching “inappropriate.”