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Fmr. Mpls. Teacher Pleads Guilty To Stalking 17-Year-Old Student

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 46-year-old Oakdale man has pleaded guilty to aggressively pursuing a 17-year-old student while teaching at Minneapolis South High School, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says Dan Arlen Anderson pleaded guilty to a single count of felony stalking. A second charge of third-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct – that included the fact that he held a position of authority over the victim – will be dismissed at the sentencing hearing on Jan. 6.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 17, a Minneapolis South High School student reported to police that Anderson – a social studies teacher – was trying to get her to have sex with him. The next day, an investigator talked with Anderson, who admitted to asking for the student's phone number and sending her a dozen text messages sexual in nature. Two text messages included pictures of his penis.

Police also examined the student's phone and recovered the incriminating texts and photos sent by Anderson.

"It is very disappointing that a very few individuals use their position of authority to prey on the young people they are supposed to develop into intelligent adults and productive citizens," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said when announcing the charges.

The county attorney's office made it clear to the judge that any sentence should make it difficult, if not impossible, for Anderson to have any position of authority over minors in the future.

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