A former employee of a Little Canada group home is heading to prison after sexually assaulting a resident with severe mental and physical disabilities.
Peter Daniel Hackman, 27, was sentenced in Ramsey County District Court on Friday to nine years in prison on one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct that caused injuries to someone mentally impaired.
The sentencing came about two months after Hackman pleaded guilty to the crime.
His attorney said via email Friday that his client tried to take responsibility for what he did as soon as he could.
“Peter was a good client who took responsibility for his actions in a way few of us could,” Zachary Van Cleve said. “I know his remorse is sincere. I was proud of the way he handled the hearing, despite not getting the sentence he was hoping for.”
Hackman assaulted the 27-year-old resident while he was caring for her at the group home on March 7, authorities say.
Another staff member reported her concerns after she discovered the woman, who is dependent on a wheelchair and nonverbal, naked in the bathroom with what appeared to be semen on her leg.
Only she and Hackman had been in contact with the resident since the previous evening.
A subsequent examination conducted at Regions Hospital in St. Paul revealed signs she had been sexually assaulted.
When interviewed by investigators, Hackman initially denied the conduct but confessed to it the following day after he was hospitalized for attempting suicide, according to court documents.