Stewartville Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Pre-Teen Girl

Get our free mobile app

Stewartville, MN (KROC-AM News)  - An arrest warrant has been issued for a Stewartville man accused of sexually abusing a young girl.

The criminal complaint against 43-year-old Daniel Kenney charges him with first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The court document also indicates Kenney recently moved out of his residence in Stewartville and it's believed he is living with a family member elsewhere in Minnesota.

The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office that began in August and uncovered allegations that Kenney had engaged in sexual contact, including penetration, with a non-family member under the age of 13 at his home in Stewartville. The court documents also detail allegations that Kenney frequently communicated with the victim through Facebook Messenger Kids that included a "selfie" photo of Kenney shirtless in a bed.

The victim's mother was able to access the messages and shared them with investigators. She also told them she spoke with her daughter about the online exchanges and she indicated Kenney told her he was going to marry her someday. The mother also alleged she confronted Kenney after seeing the messages and, according to the criminal complaint, he responded, "well, you know she wants to marry me."

During an interview with an investigator, Kenny acknowledged that he frequented sent messages to the victim, including the shirtless photo. He also stated he showered with the victim but denied sexually touching her.

News Update:  Source of Salmonella Outbreak Affecting MN Remains a Mystery