Man Accused of Inappropriately Touching Girl in Hopkins Store

A Victoria man has been accused of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old girl in a Hopkins store last week.

Chad Robert Koistinen, 29, is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. The charge is classified as a serious felony under Minnesota law.

Koistinen was released from custody Thursday on a $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 14 in Hennepin County District Court.

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Hopkins Police Officer Renee Meuwissen, police were called to the Hopkins store just after 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14 to investigate a disturbance.

Koistinen told police a woman had accused him of harassing her 10-year-old daughter.

Police spoke to the child, who appeared frightened and had red puffy eyes as though she had been crying, according to Meuwissen’s account. The girl told police that she had been in the back of the store with her mother and that Koistinen touched the girl “on her privates,” over her clothing, when her mother bent over to look at a doll.

Police asked the girl to clarify what she meant by “privates,” and she pointed to her genitals, according to the complaint.

Koistinen initially denied touching the girl, then admitted he might have “accidentally” touched her genitals, the complaint says. Eventually, he acknowledged he had touched the girl on purpose, calling it an “impulse,” according to the complaint.

Koistinen told police the girl began to cry and walked toward her mother immediately after he touched her.