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The criminal complaint is linked in the story. Case number 27-CR-26-12475. Website to search complaints in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minnesota law enforcement officer has been charged with raping a 17-year-old girl, according to charges filed Monday by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Jordan Zempel, 35, of Apple Valley, is facing one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration while in a position of authority.

According to the complaint:

Zempel allegedly told the girl she could not say no to him because he had friends in the police department before pulling out a gun and telling her “You’re safer with me than anyone else.”

She reported that Zempel raped her three times, including once while he was wearing his police officer uniform.

MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man found with 1,500 computer files depicting child abuse and three child sex dolls was sentenced to the workhouse instead of prison time this week.

Jeffrey Scott Valstad, 55, appeared before Judge Marta Chou in a Hennepin County District Court Monday where a 24-month prison sentence was stayed for three years as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

The deal dismisses five of six felony charges against Valstad for possessing pornographic work of a child under 14 and sentences him to 12 days in the Hennepin County Workhouse. He will be able to serve that on work release, if he is eligible.

Valstad must also register as predatory offender in Minnesota.