A St. Paul charter school substitute who targeted one of his students will spend six years in prison, a Ramsey County judge ruled Monday. Taylor Walue Vang, 29, was convicted of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct for incidents prosecutors say happened while he worked at the Community School of Excellence. In court, family members and prosecutors said the girl has been left with lasting psychological harm.
Judge Rejects Leniency, Imposes Six-Year Term
Ramsey County District Judge Kellie Charles refused a defense request for a sentence below state guidelines and ordered a six-year prison term, calling it “no question that this crime was particularly serious,” according to Pioneer Press. The judge credited Vang with one day already served in custody. In a brief apology, Vang told the court he regretted abusing his authority as a teacher.
Victim’s Account
The girl, then a fifth-grader and later a sixth-grader, told medical examiners she was pulled out of class, had her legs forced open and felt Vang slide his hand up her thigh before she managed to get away, according to MNCRIME. She also reported that in a separate incident in an office, Vang tried to remove her clothing and only stopped when a friend knocked on the door. School records show other students had complained months earlier that his behavior made them uncomfortable.
Investigation and Timeline
According to WCCO, school administrators confronted Vang in June 2024 after reports he was hugging and tickling female students, but he stayed on staff. It was not until an October report that he was fired and police were called. Investigators then reviewed his electronic records and interviewed him as part of their probe. A subsequent criminal complaint outlined additional alleged incidents and led to felony charges in Ramsey County.
Plea Documents and Prosecution
As reported by Pioneer Press, a November plea document and amended complaint stated that Vang admitted pulling the girl from her fifth-grade classroom and trying to penetrate her with his fingers. Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Somah Yarney told the court the victim has suffered extensive psychological trauma. Defense attorneys countered that Vang has no prior criminal history.
How This Fits Locally
Sentencing in educator abuse cases around the Twin Cities has not been uniform. For comparison, a former Minneapolis teacher received a 14-year sentence last fall, according to MPR News. Community leaders and advocates say the Vang case has renewed demands for stronger reporting requirements and safeguards inside schools. They are also urging districts to intensify efforts to protect students and support victims who come forward.
Next Steps
Vang will be transferred to state custody to begin serving his sentence, with court filings showing he received one day of credit for time already spent in jail. The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said the victim’s parents supported resolving the case without a jury trial, according to reporting by Yahoo News. The case file remains part of the public record in Ramsey County.
