On July 8, 2010, the Hon. Kris Davick-Halfen sentenced Arthur James Ree, DOB: 4/26/1927, to 12 years (144 months) in prison after his convictions for two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 1st Degree. The first count of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 1st Degree involved the defendant engaging in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 13 between September 14, 2001 and June 13, 2003, and the second count of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 1st Degree involved the defendant engaging in sexual penetration with the same victim on multiple occasions between June 13, 2003 and June 13, 2006, while having a significant relationship to the victim.
Prior to pronouncing sentence, Judge Davick-Halfen reaffirmed that the primary purpose of the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines is to establish rational and consistent sentencing standards that should reduce sentencing disparity and noted that the guidelines categorized the two offenses committed by the defendant as being the most serious of all criminal sexual conduct offenses. Judge Davick-Halfen also stressed that it is the defendant’s actions, and not those of the victim, his family, or the criminal justice system, that resulted in this situation and ultimately her sentence. Finally, Judge Davick-Halfen agreed with the defendant that the harm he caused to the victim, his family, and his former parishioners, is immeasurable and denied his request for a dispositional departure, which would have resulted in a probationary sentence.
Questions may be forwarded to Shan Wang, Assistant Chief - Criminal Division, or William MacPhail, Senior Assistant Stearns County Attorney, Stearns County Attorney’s Office at 320.656.3880.