Caregiver sexually assaulted resident at Little Canada group home, charges say

A caregiver at a group home in Little Canada sexually assaulted a vulnerable resident, according to charges filed Wednesday.

Peter D. Hackman, 27, of St. Paul, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The group home resident, who is in her late 20s, has mental and physical disabilities and is nonverbal. Hackman had contact with her when he worked the midnight shift.

According to the criminal complaint:

A female staffer at the group home first became suspicious of Hackman between Feb. 19 and 21, when she saw him enter the resident's room about 7 a.m., close the door and remain inside the room for about 45 minutes.

"Staff reported that it is highly unusual for staff member [sic] to be in a resident's room with the door closed," the criminal complaint said. "… When confronted about this, the defendant stated that he was just trying to get [the resident] to wake up."

On March 7, the same female staffer arrived for work and Hackman immediately and repeatedly volunteered that the resident, who is dependent on a wheelchair, had awakened early that day.

The staffer found evidence of sexual assault on the woman's body.

The staffer told the investigator that only she and Hackman had contact with the resident since the previous night.

A sexual assault examination at Regions Hospital in St. Paul found redness, lacerations, bruising and forensic evidence on the resident, the complaint said.

Hackman spoke with an investigator on March 8 and allegedly denied the assault. He tried to kill himself the next day.

Hackman was at Regions Hospital on March 12 when he agreed to speak with investigators a second time.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708