Ex-Police Officer And High School Coach Faces Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges Involving Minor

A former police officer in Rochester, Minnesota, was charged Friday with criminal sexual conduct involving a minor that allegedly took place while off-duty.

Timothy Morgenstern, 22, who served as an officer for the Rochester Police Department (RPD) for about a year, is accused of having sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl and soliciting child pornography while allegedly being in a position of authority over the victim, ABC 6 News reported.

Morgenstern faces several charges, including third-degree criminal sexual conduct – penetration, fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct – contact and the use of minors in sexual performance/pornographic work.

The former cop was charged after the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office received a call on Sept. 27, 2022, from a therapist, who said a 16-year-old girl disclosed an inappropriate relationship with a coach at Rochester Public Schools, according to court documents.

The victim had told the therapist her coach was 22 years old and worked as a Rochester police officer.

Rochester Public Schools (RPS) confirmed that Morgenstern served as a volunteer speech coach from November 2021 to June 2022.

"During his period of volunteer coaching, we received no complaints about Mr. Morgenstern's conduct," read a statement from RPS director of communications Mamisoa Knutson, according to ABC 6 News. "By the time Mr. Morgenstern was placed on leave by the Rochester Police Department, he was no longer involved in Rochester Public Schools in any capacity."

Morgenstern allegedly solicited photos and videos from the minor and sent explicit photos and videos to her in the summer of 2022. He allegedly communicated with the teen via Snapchat and instructed her to delete their messages, the Rochester Post Bulletin reported, citing the criminal complaint.

Morgenstern also allegedly had sex with the girl in his Rochester home in late June 2022, she told law enforcement. He allegedly told the minor not to tell anyone about the encounter. The teen ended the alleged "relationship" shortly afterward.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for cell phone data and confirmed that Morgenstern had received explicit images of the minor.

Authorities also obtained a search warrant to search for DNA evidence at his home, which was sent for testing.

Morgenstern denied any sexual involvement with the unnamed teenager, according to court documents. He also said he informed the head coach of the high school about an email the girl allegedly sent him.

The Rochester Police Department said it received a report about Morgenstern on Sept. 29, 2022.

The initial report was made to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office and shared with RPD because the alleged incident took place in Rochester. But due to a conflict of interest, the RPD requested the OCSO to conduct an independent, complete and thorough investigation.

Morgenstern, who was hired by the RPD as an officer on Oct. 7, 2021, was immediately placed on administrative leave. He was officially terminated on Oct. 6, 2022.

"The conduct outlined in this case is inconsistent with the core values of our department," Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin said in a statement.

Morgenstern's first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 15. He is not currently behind bars, MPR News reported.