WINNEBAGO - A Winnebago woman is under investigation after her husband, a previously convicted sex offender, sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl at her allegedly unlicensed daycare.
Health and Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties is looking into the case of Melanie Knopps.
The specifics of the investigation will not be released to the public unless criminal charges are filed, said Faribault County Attorney Brian Roverud.
Steven Mark Knopps, 49, recently was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the 7-year-old. He was arrested in Winne-bago in early February after the child's grandfather reported Knopps had sexual contact with the girl.
"He admitted to one time," said Winnebago Police Chief Bob Toland. "She said it was several times. I don't know. He was charged with one time."
Knopps accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to a maximum of 58 months in prison, with a minimum of 41 months. He will now have a lifetime conditional release, and if he ever violates his release terms he could be civilly committed for life. Knopps originally was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a longer prison term.
The victim's family accepted the plea agreement, with reservations.
"It was with a heavy heart that we did settle for a plea agreement," the child's grandmother. "This was devastating for our family. We agreed on 58 months to get it done."
Roverud says there is no evidence Melanie Knopps was operating an in-home daycare with a license.
"Probably she would not have qualified for a license," he said. "According to the police reports, various other children were staying at the house ... for daycare when this incident occurred. For how long that had been happening I do not know."
A license is required for a daycare if a person is caring for more than one child not related to them. A background check is done on all of the people living in the home. Under state law, licensing can permanently be denied for many criminal offenses, including a conviction for any sex crime.
Toland said Knopps had a prior conviction of criminal sexual conduct involving a juvenile in Willmar in 1983. Since the conviction happened before before sex offender registration began in 1991, Knopps was not required to register once released.
The child's grandmother doesn't want this to happen to any others.
"My thing is just getting this out - just letting the community know," she said. "(Knopps) slipped through the cracks. He didn't have to register. What a shame. It changes your life forever. How could they deceive a whole community? She knew what this man was like and she still chose to do daycare. It's sad."
The grandmother also said it took months for the girl's nightmares to stop, and even longer for the family to be able to drive past the house where it happened. In the victim impact statement she read at Knopps' sentencing, she was thankful for what the conviction meant.
"At least now he will have to register," she said. "So the community, or any community, will know what he is and where he is. Hopefully this will never happen to one more child."
Licensing information on many care facilities, including home child care, is available online through the Minnesota Department of Human Services Web site at www.licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us
