Child Molester in Minnesota Given 40 Years

Confessed child molester James Rud, whose allegations of widespread child sex abuse shook a rural Minnesota community, was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison.

Judge Martin Mansur gave Rud the maximum sentence allowed under state law on 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and chastised him for discussing his case with reporters while he awaited sentencing.

Mansur said he had warned Rud not to talk with the media. “When you did that, you knew you were punching your ticket for the trip (to prison),” he said.

Rud’s statements to the media made him worthless as a witness in any further cases, the judge said.

Recants Part of Statement

Scott County Atty. Kathleen Morris said Rud promised last September to be honest with state investigators under a plea-bargain arrangement. Rud later recanted part of his statement implicating others in alleged sex parties involving children.

Morris said the agreement allowed for Rud to be sentenced to the maximum penalty if it is later proved that he lied to investigators. Under the arrangement, Rud pleaded guilty to 10 charges of abusing children, and 98 other charges were dismissed.

Rud was the first of 24 adults and one juvenile to be arrested on allegations that they sexually abused more than 40 children. Rud told investigators in a formal statement that he had abused at least 24 children in a two-year period.

One couple charged in the case were acquitted. Charges against all the others were dropped.