Grandfather Accused of Sexually Abusing 4-year-old While Babysitting
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A Saint Paul man is facing a criminal sexual conduct charge after allegedly sexually abused his four-year-old granddaughter while babysitting her at a Maplewood home late last month.
Shane Patrick Hurley, 51, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving sexual penetration or contact with a child under 16 where a significant relationship exists.
The felony charge stems from an incident reported on Dec. 27, 2025, in Ramsey County and carries a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison, a $40,000 fine or both if convicted.
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According to the criminal complaint, Maplewood police were called at 7:21 p.m. on Dec. 27 to a residence on Desota Avenue to take a criminal sexual conduct report. The child’s mother told officers she had asked Hurley, her biological father, to watch her two children for a couple of hours while she went to work. She said Hurley arrived at the home around 4 p.m. and left about 6:30 p.m.
After Hurley left, the mother asked her daughter what had happened while he was there. The child initially said she could not tell her mother because her grandfather told her not to say anything. She then disclosed that Hurley exposed himself and forced sexual contact.
Officers spoke briefly with the child, who provided consistent statements and said the abuse occurred in a bathroom. She also said Hurley told her he wouldn’t take her to “Candy Land” if she told anyone. Investigators collected video from a nanny camera inside the child’s bedroom and reviewed the footage as part of the investigation.
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According to the complaint, the video shows Hurley positioning himself directly in front of the child and exposing himself while speaking to her. The footage captures Hurley encouraging inappropriate sexual behavior before leading the child into a bathroom. The bathroom door closed and remained closed for several minutes.
Investigators reported that when Hurley exited the bathroom, he displayed physical signs consistent with sexual arousal. Hurley was later arrested at his Saint Paul residence. During a post-Miranda interview, he denied sexually abusing his granddaughter and when investigators confronted him with portions of the surveillance video, Hurley said he didn’t remember the events. He then ended the interview and asked to speak with a lawyer.
Court records show Hurley has prior misdemeanor cases from 2013 in Saint Paul. Those include a domestic assault charge that was later dismissed and a disorderly conduct conviction.
In a public statement posted on social media after the court documents were filed, the child’s mother confirmed her biological father had been formally charged in connection with the sexual abuse and said video evidence supports her child’s disclosure. The mother said she contacted law enforcement immediately after learning what happened and said she doesn’t believe her daughter was Hurley’s first victim. She urged anyone who may have had contact with him to take concerns seriously and report any information directly to law enforcement.
Hurley was booked into Ramsey County Jail on Dec. 28 and remains in custody. Authorities have not released additional details about the ongoing case.
