Sexual abuse is a taboo topic in most spaces. Meanwhile, the prevalence of sexual violence is disturbing. In less than a month, we’ve learned about the following cases in our community.
March 18, 2025 – Minnesota Republican Senator Justin Eichorn, 40, is facing felony charges related to soliciting a minor for sexual conduct. Bloomington Police say that Eichorn arranged a meeting with who he thought was a teenage girl. When he arrived, he was arrested by detectives, without incident. Felony charges of Soliciting Under 18 Year Old to Practice Prostitution are pending from the Hennepin County Attorney’s office.
March 15, 2025 – Michael Gillis, 34, from Eden Prairie was arrested after allegedly raping a 15-year-boy earlier this month. The victim told authorities that when he got to Gillis’ house, they went into Gillis’ bedroom, and Gillis sexually assaulted him. The complaint notes that the victim ran out of the house once Gillis fell asleep. Gillis is in custody, with a jury trial set for April regarding prior solicitation charges in both Minnesota and Florida. Read more.
February 25, 2025 – William Haslach, 30, is a former employee of North Saint Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District (Aug. '21 - Jan. '25) and Stillwater Area School District (2021 - 2024). According to the charging document, Haslach used his access to children in his care to take non-explicit photos and used AI to create sexually explicit content. He is facing more than ten federal charges related to child pornography.
"The fact that we still struggle to get healthy sexual education in schools shows the taboo of talking about sex in general," said Nicole Matthews, executive director at Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition. "If we can't talk about healthy sexuality and we're afraid to raise the subject with our kids and with our families, it's very hard to talk about sexual violence when it comes up."
How to recognize and talk about grooming
Online grooming is a form of manipulation where an adult or older individual builds a relationship with a child online with the aim of exploiting or abusing them. In-person grooming is similar but takes place in face-to-face environment.
Being vigilant and having open, honest conversations with children, can help ensure they understand healthy boundaries and are more likely to come to you if they feel uncomfortable or threatened.
Signs of Grooming
Excessive Communication: The groomer may start with innocent conversations but quickly escalate to frequent or excessive messaging, sometimes at odd hours, to build a rapport with the child.
Flattering or Complimenting: The groomer may shower the child with compliments, making them feel special, mature, or attractive.
Secrecy: The child may be encouraged to keep their conversations secret, or they may hide their interactions from parents, making it harder to monitor what’s going on.
Inappropriate Conversations: Conversations that turn inappropriate for the child's age, such as discussing personal or sexual topics, might be part of the grooming process. They may also ask the child to engage in risky behaviors.
Gifts: Offering games, gift cards, or other rewards to gain the child’s trust and keep them engaged.
Physical Touch and Boundaries: The groomer may initiate physical contact that starts out casual, like hugs or pats on the back. Over time, the groomer pushes boundaries, such as encouraging the child to sit on their lap or hold hands.
Manipulating the Child’s Emotions: The groomer may pretend to have similar interests or experiences, or even try to manipulate the child’s emotions to create a false sense of closeness.
Gradual Sexualization: The groomer may introduce sexually suggestive comments, behaviors, or inappropriate jokes and gradually escalates to more overtly inappropriate actions or requests.
Isolation from Others: The groomer may attempt to isolate the child from their family and friends, making them feel more dependent on the relationship.
How Adults Can Talk to Children About Grooming
Open and Honest Conversations: Talk openly with children about the potential dangers they may face online on in person. Encourage them to come to you if they feel uncomfortable with any interaction.
Use Age-Appropriate Language: Explain what grooming is in a way that’s understandable for the child. Avoid scaring them, but make it clear that there are people who might try to take advantage of them.
Teach Digital Boundaries: Help children understand the importance of maintaining boundaries online. Explain that it’s never okay for someone to ask for or share personal information, or to make them feel pressured to do something they’re not comfortable with.
Encourage Transparency: Let children know they should be comfortable with sharing their experiences. Make it clear that they can always come to you for help, no matter what’s going on.
Build Their Confidence: Empower children to trust their instincts. Let them know it's okay to stop talking to someone or block them if they feel uncomfortable.
"Sexual violence is not about sex," said Nicole Matthews, executive director at Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition. "It’s about using sex as a tool for power and control. We need to talk about it and we also need to talk about healthy sexuality, and we need to keep having the conversations until it doesn't feel awkward."
If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.
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