A former University of St. Thomas student who slipped into a St. Paul home and groped a 12-year-old girl was sentenced in Ramsey County on July 21, 2026, after pleading guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct. Prosecutors say the defendant, 27-year-old Thammathorn Laohalertdecha, has since been deported to Thailand. The attack happened on July 9, 2025, in the Frogtown neighborhood and involved the intruder pinning the child, covering her mouth and groping her, according to court records.
Police reports say the intruder climbed in through a window, and officers later found a pair of sandals beneath the girl’s window while fresh finger smudges were swabbed for DNA. During the struggle, the girl screamed, punched the intruder and called her sister. The sister’s boyfriend then chased the suspect, dragged him into the backyard and held him until officers arrived. Authorities say the suspect later messaged the victim’s father and was arrested that evening in the 300 block of Hatch Avenue, as reported by the Pioneer Press.
Plea and sentence
Laohalertdecha pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct on March 24, 2026, resolving the case without a trial, according to court filings. A judge imposed an executed 364-day jail term and stayed a separate three-year prison sentence for five years. Under the plea deal, Laohalertdecha received credit for time already spent in custody, which effectively satisfied the executed jail term. The criminal complaint recounts the victim’s efforts to fight back and the role of witnesses in holding the intruder until police arrived.
Deportation and unusual logistics
Defense attorney Paul Rogosheske told the court that Laohalertdecha and his parents coordinated his return to Thailand with help from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago. Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Michelle Monteiro said in court that the defendant has been deported and is no longer in the United States. “It’s a little bit of a unique situation here, obviously,” Monteiro said in remarks noted in local coverage that described how the plea and subsequent removal unfolded quickly after the guilty plea, as reported by the Pioneer Press.
What the law says
Minnesota law defines second-degree criminal sexual conduct as unlawful sexual contact under specified circumstances and allows for substantial penalties depending on the facts of the case and any prior convictions. The statute sets out the required elements for a conviction and the range of possible punishments; see the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes for the full language.
Next steps and local impact
Because Laohalertdecha has been deported, prosecutors say the stayed three-year prison sentence and its conditions will remain dormant unless he returns to the United States. If that happens, the court could enforce the remaining prison term. Court filings describe how the victim resisted during the intrusion and how household members and bystanders stepped in to help detain the suspect until officers arrived.
