CARLTON, MN – In a trial held in Carlton County on June 30, former Finland area resident Andrew Deyette was found not guilty on four gross misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident in 2023.
The not guilty verdict came as a directed verdict from Judge Steven Hanke after all testimony and evidence had been heard by a jury.
A directed verdict of not guilty is handed down by a judge, after a motion from the defense, that determines that no reasonable jury could reach a different conclusion based on the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Deyette, 41, had been charged with two counts of indecent exposure in the presence of a minor under age 16 and two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree lewd exhibition.
In 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the term “lewdly” in the indecent exposure statutes refers to conduct of a sexual nature when nude, not simply the fact that someone is nude in public.
The defense in the Deyette trial made the case that, since there was no coercion or overt pressure, no talk of a sexually suggestive nature, and since Deyette showed no outward signs of sexual arousal, the conduct did not constitute lewd behavior. In addition, the defense had made a previous motion which was granted by presiding Judge Stephen Hanke that no questions or testimony regarding “‘grooming’, ‘vibes’ or feelings regarding whether the defendant had sexual intent” be allowed at trial.
When Lake County Attorney Lara Nygaard was asked a series of questions about the case and trial, she responded that she was unable to comment. Prosecutor Nygaard did not contest a change of venue motion made by the defense after a failed jury selection process in February in Lake County Court. Nor did Nygaard challenge the defense motion to limit questioning and testimony at the trial. At the June 30 trial, Nygaard chose not to give an opening statement. In addition, prosecution witness Noah Wolf stated he was told by a representative in the county attorney’s office that a plea agreement was never under consideration.
Deyette, who now resides in Clallam County, Washington, still faces four additional gross misdemeanor charges in Lake County for a similar incident in 2024 as well as a single misdemeanor count for violating a restraining order. No information is available at this time on further disposition of these cases.
