The Brief
- Despite early reports of sexual abuse and multiple red flags, one of Minnesota’s “most prolific” child predators evaded accountability for years.
- Aaron Hjermstad sexually abused dozens of young boys while he was a teacher and coach at charter schools in the Twin Cities.
- The case is detailed in “Minnesota Monster”, a new true-crime documentary premiering Sept. 23 on FOX 9, FOX LOCAL and on FOX 9’s YouTube channel.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A new documentary will reveal how a former Twin Cities teacher and coach sexually abused dozens of young boys and avoided full accountability for more than a decade.
Early charges were declined, despite 2015 report
As a former teacher and basketball coach at Excell Academy in Brooklyn Park and Best Academy in Minneapolis, Aaron Hjermstad sexually abused more than 100 young boys. He was also a volunteer coach at Hospitality House.
“We don’t see someone with 100 victims. I’ve never seen that,” said Hennepin County prosecutor Dan Allard.
The FOX 9 Investigators tracked Hjermstad’s case for more than two years. While Hjermstad was convicted in 2021 and again in 2025 for sexually abusing young children, prosecutors initially declined to file charges after the first known victim stepped forward in 2015.…