UPDATE: Former Tartan Student Sentenced in Sex Crime Case

Lakeland teenager Matthew D. Lilledahl Mueller was sentenced on Wednesday afternoon to 45 days in the county workhouse after pleading guilty to one count of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct (Minn. Statute 609.352).

Washington County District Court Judge Mary Hannon also ordered Mueller, 18, to register himself as a predatory offender and attend sex offender treatment and aftercare.

after an investigation stemming from a Feb. 19 incident in which he allegedly exposed himself to a 7-year-old child.

Hannon also ordered Mueller to refrain from any unsupervised contact with anyone under 18—including his sister—for the duration of his three-year probation.

"Ideally you would not be living in a house with any minors," Hannon said during sentencing. "But I understand the realities of your situation."

Mueller, who is employed as a dishwasher, is allowed to live at home as long as his father, stepmother or court-appointed supervisor are present.

Representatives of the victim were not present at the sentencing, but they did convey their thoughts in a victim impact statement read by county prosecutor Karin McCarthy.

The statement highlighted the "stress and heartache" caused by what the family called an "unconscionable act." The family concluded its statement by asking for the maximum penalty for Mueller, which constitutes three years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

Hannon concluded her sentencing of Mueller with a warning: "You've been diagnosed as a pedophile and you need to take a hard look at yourself so you don't end up in prison."

If Mueller complies with all of the conditions of his sentencing—including obeying a no-contact order and following the recommendations of his psychosexual evaluation—his crime could be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor after 15 months.

Update (2:54 p.m.) — Defense attorney Steven Coodin represented Mueller at his sentencing on Sept. 14. Coodin contacted Oakdale Patch to reiterate his support for his client.

"I am confident that Matthew will be successful on probation and complete everything that the court has required of him," Coodin wrote in an email. "He has high aspirations and will move forward and become a very productive member of society."