Maple Grove Fire Chief Maddison Zikmund is facing a felony charge in Anoka County after prosecutors say he sexually assaulted and groomed a 17-year-old girl who was participating in a Fire Explorers job-shadowing program. According to a criminal complaint, the alleged conduct took place in the spring of 2017 while the teen was enrolled in a regional explorers post. City officials have placed Zikmund on administrative leave while the case moves forward.
Charges and alleged timeline
Prosecutors have charged Zikmund, 36, with one count of felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to CBS Minnesota. The complaint states the victim joined the Spring Lake Park‑Blaine‑Mounds View Fire Department’s Fire Explorers program in July or August 2016, when she was 16 years old.
Investigators say that what began as routine communication with a group leader eventually shifted from standard texts to Snapchat and Instagram as the exchanges grew more sexual. According to the complaint, Zikmund asked the teen for nude photos, and the alleged rape occurred at his Blaine home in the spring of 2017, when she was 17. The filing lists his first court appearance in Anoka County as Sept. 4, 2026.
Alleged assault and the chief's account
In an interview summarized in the charging documents, Zikmund at first told investigators he did not remember a fire explorer who might have been interested in him. He later acknowledged receiving sexually explicit images, as reported by CBS Minnesota.
Zikmund denied raping the victim but admitted to touching her underneath her clothing and described the visit to his home as "very uncomfortable." The complaint quotes him as telling investigators, "Again, I know this was wrong."
Chief's background and department response
Zikmund was appointed Maple Grove’s fire chief in March 2025 after earlier serving as fire chief in Fridley and as an assistant chief with the Spring Lake Park‑Blaine‑Mounds View department, according to city records and local reporting. The City of Maple Grove staff directory lists him as Fire Chief at the Public Safety Facility, and local outlet CCX Media covered his hiring in 2025. Hoodline also previously reported on his arrival in Maple Grove that year.
Legal context
Under Minnesota law, criminal sexual conduct in the third degree covers sexual penetration with a person under 18, as well as sexual penetration when the accused is in a prohibited occupational or authority relationship with the victim. It is a felony offense that can carry substantial prison time and may require registration upon conviction, according to the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes. The statute details what prosecutors must prove and the sentencing framework courts use in these cases.
What comes next and resources
The case will proceed in Anoka County through the standard pretrial process as investigators and prosecutors continue to review evidence laid out in the complaint. In the meantime, support services are available for others who may be dealing with sexual violence.
In the north-metro area, survivors and their families can contact Alexandra House at its 24-hour helpline, 763-780-2330, for confidential assistance. Statewide information, advocacy, and additional resources are available through the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
