OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ATTORNEY

PETER J. ORPUT COUNTY A TTORNEY

Press Release
Contact: Pete Orput FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 651-430-6115 DATE: February 9, 2017

School Bus Aide Charged with Sexual Assaults of Students

County Attorney Pete Orput today announced the filing of charges against Harvey Kneifl, age
70, of Woodbury. Kneifl was charged with 6 counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault. He will have
his first appearance tomorrow.

According to the complaint filed in the case, Kneifl is a school bus attendant assisting children
on the bus with special needs for the South Washington County School District on routes in
Woodbury. After an investigation by the Woodbury Police Department, with the cooperation of
the school district, Kneifl is seen on video from inside the bus on two occasions, touching 6
children under age 13 on their genitals over their clothing. At least 3 of the children confirmed
to law enforcement that which was readily visible on the school districts video of the bus
interior.

Orput stated, The first duty of this office is the protection of our children. What this defendant
is alleged to have done is totally abhorrent to society. The case will be prosecuted with that
standard in mind.

####

(Criminal Complaint follows)

StateofMinnesota DistrictCourt
CountyofWashington 10thJudicialDistrict
ProsecutorFileNo. CR-2017-235
CourtFileNo. 82-CR-17-575

StateofMinnesota, COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, OrderofDetention
vs.
HARVEYTHEODOREKNEIFLDOB:06/25/1946
7555BaileyRoad
#308
Woodbury,MN55125
Defendant.

The Complainant submits this complaint to the Court and states that there is probable cause to believe
Defendantcommittedthefollowingoffense(s):
COUNTI
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit:
E.L.R.,DOB3/20/2012,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim
COUNTII
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit: V.Y.,
DOB4/10/2012,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim
COUNTIII
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
1
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit:
G.E.M.,DOB10/10/2011,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim
COUNTIV
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit:
H.M.M.,DOB3/1/2012,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim
COUNTV
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit: R.V.,
DOB2/25/2012,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim
COUNTVI
Charge:CriminalSexConduct-2ndDegree-VictimUnder13-Actorgreaterthan36mOld
MinnesotaStatute:609.343.1(a),withreferenceto:609.343.2(a)
MaximumSentence:25yearsand$35,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):01/27/2017to02/03/2017
Control#(ICR#):17602550
Charge Description: engage in sexual contact with another person under the age of 13 years, to-wit: K.N.,
DOB3/19/2012,andsaiddefendantismorethan36monthsolderthanthevictim

2
 STATEMENTOFPROBABLECAUSE

TheComplainantstatesthatthefollowingfactsestablishprobablecause:

YourComplainantisalicensedMinnesotapeaceofficerwiththeWoodburyPoliceDepartment.
Complainantoffersthefollowingstatementtoestablishprobablecause:

OnFebruary4,2017atapproximately8:20p.m.,OfficerRyanSchroederoftheWoodburyPolice
DepartmentwascontactedbyJ.M.thefatherofH.M.M.(DOB3/1/2012)whoreportedthathisdaughter
takesthebustoschoolintheSouthWashingtonCountySchoolDistrict.Onthisbusroutethereisadriver
andaschoolbusattendant/aidtoassistchildrenbecausesomeofthechildrenhavespecialneeds.On
February3,2017,H.M.M.tookthebusandnoticedthatthenormalbusattendant/aidwasnotonthebus.
ThenewbusattendantwasidentifiedasHarveyTheodoreKneifl,hereinknownasDefendant,DOB
6/25/1946.WhenH.M.M.satdownonthebustheDefendantsatnexttoherandfirstthenrubbedH.M.M.'s
leg.AfterrubbingherlegtheDefendantthenproceededtorubthechild'sgenitalareainaroughmanner
"fourorfive"times.H.M.M.reportedtoherparentsthatshewasscaredbytheDefendant'sactions.The
routeofthisbusalwaystravelsinWashingtonCounty.

Aftertakingtheinitialreport,yourComplainantwasassignedtothecaseforfurtherinvestigation.
InvestigatorMillermadecontactwiththebuscompanydirectorCarrieOlson.Ms.Olsonhadbeenmade
awareoftheassault.ThebuscompanyisSouthWashingtonTransportationCompany(SWTC).Upon
learningoftheassaultthebuscompanybeganworkingwithlawenforcementprovidinginformationonall
childrenwhowereonthatroute,identificationofthebusdriver,theidentityoftheDefendantandvideofrom
thebustakenonFebruary3,2017.SWTCreportedthatthisisabusrouteforpre-Kandspecialneeds
children.TheDefendantdutiesweretoaidchildrenwhogotonthebusandmakesurethattheywere
travelingsafe.WhentheComplainantreviewedthevideotheDefendantisseentouchingthegenitalarea
ofmultiplegirlsinasexualmannerovertheirclothing.

AfterSWTCwasmadeawareoftheDefendant'sactionstheyobtainedvideofromabusdatedJanuary
27,2017.TheDefendantw
asthebusattendant/aidonthatbusroute.Thebusroutewasthesamerouteasmentionedabove.Inthat
video,theDefendantisseentouchingfemalechildreninthesameaggressivesexualmanner.OnJanuary
27,2017,thechildrensexuallyassaultedbytheDefendantwereidentifiedasE.L.R.,DOB3/20/2012,V.Y.
DOB4/10/2012,andG.E.M.DOB10/10/2011.

AreviewofthevideofromFebruary3,2017identifyH.M.M,V.Y.,K.N.DOB3/19/2012,R.V.DOB
2/25/2012andG.E.M.asvictimsofsexualassaultbytheDefendant.InthevideotheDefendantisseen
touchingthesechildrenovertheirclothingintheirgenitalareainasexualmanner.

AllparentsofthechildrenwereimmediatelynotifiedandthreechildrenwereseenatMidwestChildren's
ResourceCenter(MCRC)byaphysician.Thefollowingchildrenwereinterviewedandexamined:H.M.M,
E.L.RandG.E.M.AllthreechildrendisclosedthattheDefendantwouldtouchandrubtheirgenitalareawith
hishands.

3
OnFebruary8,2017theDefendantwasinterviewedafterbeingreadhisMirandaRights.Heagreedto
speakwithlawenforcementofficers.DuringthatinterviewtheDefendantconfirmedthathewasonthe
abovementionedbusroutes.Headmittedthathelikestotickle,pokeandhugthechildren,thatheputshis
handsonthegirlsthighsrubbingthem.Hedeniedrubbinganyofthegenitalareas,claiminghemakesthe
girlsfeelgoodbecause"theycomefromahardlifeandlikelydonotgetanysortofaffectionathome',he
believeshebecomesclosertothechildrenthantheirparents,andhelikessittingbythegirlsonthisbus
becausetheyare"morefun".

DefendantwassubsequentlyarrestedandtransportedtotheWashingtonCountyJail.

4
 SIGNATURESANDAPPROVALS

ComplainantrequeststhatDefendant,subjecttobailorconditionsofrelease,be:
(1)arrestedorthatotherlawfulstepsbetakentoobtainDefendant'sappearanceincourtor
(2)detained,ifalreadyincustody,pendingfurtherproceedingsandthatsaidDefendantotherwise
bedealtwithaccordingtolaw.
Complainantdeclaresunderpenaltyofperjurythateverythingstatedinthisdocumentistrueand
correct.Minn.Stat.358.116Minn.R.Crim.P.2.01,subds.1,2.

Complainant StephenWills ElectronicallySigned:

Commander 02/09/201712:20PM
2100RadioDrive WashingtonCounty,Minnesota
Woodbury,MN55125
Badge:607

Beingauthorizedtoprosecutetheoffensescharged,Iapprovethiscomplaint.

ProsecutingAttorney ThomasD.Wedes ElectronicallySigned:

AssistantCountyAttorney 02/09/201712:16PM
POBox6
1501562ndStreetNorth
Stillwater,MN55082
(651)430-6115

5
 FINDINGOFPROBABLECAUSE
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendants arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court, or Defendants detention, if already in custody,
pendingfurtherproceedings.Defendantisthereforechargedwiththeabove-statedoffense(s).

SUMMONS
THEREFOREYOU,THEDEFENDANT,ARESUMMONEDtoappearon___________,_____at_____AM/PM
beforetheabove-namedcourtat1494962ndStreetNPOBox3802,Stillwater,MN55082-3802toanswerthis
complaint.

IFYOUFAILTOAPPEARinresponsetothisSUMMONS,aWARRANTFORYOURARRESTshallbeissued.

WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the court (if in
session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than
36hoursafterthearrestorassoonassuchJudgeorJudicialOfficerisavailabletobedealtwithaccordingtolaw.

ExecuteinMNOnly ExecuteNationwide ExecuteinBorderStates

X ORDEROFDETENTION
Since the Defendant is already in custody, I order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the Defendant continue to be
detainedpendingfurtherproceedings.

Bail:$
ConditionsofRelease:

Thiscomplaint,dulysubscribedandsworntoorsignedunderpenaltyofperjury,isissuedbytheundersignedJudicialOfficer
asofthefollowingdate:February9,2017.

JudicialOfficer SusanRMiles ElectronicallySigned:02/09/201701:45PM

DistrictCourtJudge

SworntestimonyhasbeengivenbeforetheJudicialOfficerbythefollowingwitnesses:

COUNTYOFWASHINGTON
STATEOFMINNESOTA

StateofMinnesota
Plaintiff LAWENFORCEMENTOFFICERRETURNOFSERVICE
IherebyCertifyandReturnthatIhaveservedacopyofthisOrderof
vs. DetentionupontheDefendanthereinnamed.
SignatureofAuthorizedServiceAgent:
HarveyTheodoreKneifl
Defendant