A man convicted of having sex with his underage girlfriend in the 1990s and pardoned two years ago by Gov. Tim Pawlenty was back in jail Tuesday after a judge revoked his bail on charges in an alleged sexual assault.
Jeremy Giefer, 36, of Vernon Center, was returned to jail after a judge determined that Giefer had gotten too close to his alleged victim in violation of conditions of his release on $250,000 bail.
Giefer last Friday came within 20 feet of the 17-year-old girl despite requirements to stay at least 100 yards away, Assistant Blue Earth County Attorney Chris Rovney said Tuesday. Giefer was arrested and returned to jail, and a judge reset bail at $1 million.
Giefer was pardoned in 2008 in connection with his conviction for having sex with his underage girlfriend in 1993. Pawlenty and two other members of the Pardon Board agreed unanimously to the pardon. The case began when Giefer was 19 and his girlfriend, whom he later married, was 14.
The charges filed in November accuse Giefer of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl hundreds of times over the past seven years. He is charged with 12 felony counts, including five of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Pawlenty and other members of the Pardon Board were unaware of the alleged behavior at the time they granted Giefer a pardon, which allowed him to avoid disclosing his earlier conviction for what is commonly called statutory rape.
Last week Pawlenty asked prosecutors to consider filing perjury or fraud charges against Giefer for allegedly being untruthful in presenting himself as law-abiding at the 2008 Pardon Board hearing.
Blue Earth County Attorney Ross Arneson said Tuesday, "I think we will be doing that, but it's still under review. ... It's likely a charge will be brought."
Pat Doyle • 651-222-1210
