NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 7, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Chelsie Hollencamp
218-726-2323 or HollencampC@stlouiscountymn.gov
Luis Antonio Villafana Sentenced for Second-Degree Sexual Conduct with a Minor Under 14, Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Court File # 69HI-CR-25-313
Today in St. Louis County District Court in Hibbing, the Honorable Chief Judge Rachel Sullivan sentenced Luis Antonio Villafana, 29, to 153 months in prison for one count of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 14 and three counts of Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material, said County Attorney Kim Maki. Shortly after moving to Minnesota from Texas, Mr. Villafana began sexually abusing a pre-pubescent girl. Mr. Villafana used a fictitious online account to encourage the girl to submit to his sexually assaultive behavior. He also created Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) of the girl and distributed it (along with other CSAM) to others through the internet.
In August, Mr. Villafana pleaded guilty and, today, was sentenced on all four counts at the same hearing. Despite having no prior criminal history, Minnesota law allows the separate counts to “Hernandize,” where each conviction adds criminal history points to the next sentence. As a result, Mr. Villafana now has the maximum criminal history score.
Mr. Villafana will also be placed on conditional release, a mandatory period of extended supervision for individuals released from prison after serving sentences for specific offenses (including sex offenses). Judge Sullivan sentenced Mr. Villifana to a mandatory conditional release period of 15 years.
“In a case like this, involving repeated and devastating crimes against a child, it is critical to ensure that separate criminal acts carry separate and meaningful consequences,” said County Attorney Maki. “It allows the total sentence to reflect the full breadth of Mr. Villafana’s criminal conduct, promotes accountability and public safety, and recognizes the profound harm inflicted on the victim, her family, and our community.”
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office credits the successful prosecution of this case to the joint investigation by the Chisholm and Hibbing Police Departments, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Tyler Kenefick.
For help please contact:
Domestic Abuse Intervention Project: theduluthmodel.org; 218-722-2781
American Indian Community Housing Organization: aicho.org; 218-722-2247
Safe Haven: safehavenshelter.org; 218-728-6481
Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault: pavsa.org; 218-726-1931
Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse: casda.org; 715-392-3136
Advocates For Family Peace: www.affp.org; 218-248-5512
Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County: stopsexualviolence.org; 218-749-7227
First Witness Child Advocacy Center: firstwitness.org; 218-727-8353
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