How Could You? Hall of Shame-Daniel Hennen

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Jordan, Minnesota,previously convicted Foster/adoptive father Daniel A Hennen,59, was “charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He posted $5,000 cash bail and was released Dec. 1 from the Scott County jail.”

“Daniel A. Hennen of Jordan was convicted in 2002 of raping the children he and his wife had adopted or cared for as foster parents. He admitted then that there were more victims but he refused to name them.

In mid-October, a 27-year-old woman stepped forward and said she was sexually assaulted by Hennen when she was 7 years old. A criminal complaint filed last week in Scott County District Court graphically describes the abuse the woman said she endured while she was under the couple’s roof.”

“County Attorney Pat Ciliberto said the state asked for $1 million bond or $250,000 cash at Hennen’s initial hearing. He had no comment on the decision by District Judge Caroline Lennon to set bail at $5,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Authorities said in a news release that as many as 60 to 70 children were placed in the home before Hennen was sent to prison in 2003 and asked for help identifying any other possible victims. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call Det. Brian Cade at 952-496-8755.

Scott County Chief Deputy Dean Opatz said authorities believe there could be eight or more additional victims. The Hennens were licensed through a private foster care agency. Records that could help authorities identify the couple’s foster children no longer exist. State law then required such records to be shredded after 10 years.

The complaint against Hennen said the victim contacted the Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 15. She said she and her brother were in foster care with Hennen and his wife when she was about 6 or 7 years old — about 20 years ago. They lived there for more than a year, she said.

The woman said Hennen “grabbed her from her room at night when everyone else was asleep” and forced her to perform oral sex, the complaint said. She reported that Hennen “sexually assaulted her like this almost every other day while she was in his care.”

Hennen would take off his clothes and make the girl take off her clothes, too, the complaint said. He would lay on her and would touch and kiss her. He would touch her genitals but the woman said she didn’t remember if he had sex with her.

Hennen talked to authorities on Oct. 17. He said he remembered the woman but he denied sexually abusing her, the complaint said. When the Hennens’ home was searched Oct. 20, investigators found an envelope full of photos of the woman and a framed photo of the woman, then a girl, in the master bedroom.

Hennen was charged in 2002 with 11 counts of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct involved two victims. He made an Alford plea — not admitting guilty but admitting there was enough evidence to find him guilty — in 2003

Records in the state court information system said he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But state Department of Corrections records say he was sentenced to eight years. He was on supervised release from 2008 until his sentence expired in October 2013.

Opatz said Hennen works in Scott County as an auto mechanic. Before he was sent to prison, he was a custodian.

“I do not think he’s a public safety risk,” Opatz said.

A woman who answered the phone Monday at the Hennens’ home hung up; a second call went unanswered. Hennen’s next court appearance is Jan. 9.”

Jordan man accused of raping another foster child[Star Tribune 12/8/14 by Pat Pheifer]

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