| Former youth director enters plea agreement | | Print | |
| Written by LOREN UNDSETH |
 Jeff Frodermann, former youth director at United Methodist Church of Sebeka and Menahga, entered into a plea agreement with Wadena County Court where he will plead guilty to one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree. Frodermann, age 29, was charged for having sexual contact with a minor member of the church’s youth group.Under the plea agreement, Frodermann will serve 180 days in the Jackson County Jail with credit for time served, followed by six months of house arrest. The six months of house arrest is contingent upon good behavior during his first six months in jail. He will also pay a $3,000 fine and be on probation for nine years. He must receive sex offender treatment and must register as a sex offender, as well as submit a DNA profile to the State. If he violates his probation, he could serve a minimum of 12 years in prison. The pre-sentence investigation is currently underway, with sentencing scheduled for February 9, 2010. Frodermann is currently out on bail until the final sentencing. The charges came from a joint investigation between the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office and Menahga Police Department due to the act occurring at least once in the county and once at his residence within the city of Menahga. Menahga Police Chief Scott Koennicke says his office was prepared and ready for a trial and expected a conviction which would have potentially provided a much more severe sentence. He explains that plea bargains are an essential part of the legal system that is worked out between the defendant and the county attorney’s office. The maximum penalty for the charge is imprisonment for 30 years. The minor reported the sexual contact to the current youth director at United Methodist late in the evening on August 27. The youth director then informed the church’s pastor, Loren Ferch, of the report the next morning. Ferch met with the minor the morning of August 28, and within one hour of meeting with the minor, Ferch had reported the incident to law enforcement. Frodermann was arrested by Menahga Police on August 31, only four days after the initial report was made to church staff. Frodermann worked at United Methodist from June 2007 until he resigned in July 2009. He continued to live in the Menahga area after his resignation. Before he moved to Menahga, he was a youth director and founder of The Narrow Path, a youth ministry program in Heron Lake, from 2002 until June 2007. He was also the volunteer assistant cross country coach for the Heron Lake School. Frodermann is originally from Jackson County. |