A former employee of an afterschool program has been convicted of violating the modesty of a 12-year-old boy and sentenced to 40 days of unconditional imprisonment. The court in Herning, Denmark, also ruled that the 28-year-old man is prohibited from working with children professionally or in recreational settings for the next two years. The sentence was issued based on a unanimous decision by the jury, which found the man guilty of having touched the boy inappropriately over his clothing in November of last year.

The former afterschool program employee had originally faced several more serious charges, including sexual assaults against eight children, rape involving acts other than intercourse, as well as violence and threats against a girl. However, the court found the evidence insufficient to convict him of these more severe charges. Specifically, the court determined that the testimony from the other children lacked the necessary “character, firmness, and clarity.”

The case started when a boy in the sixth grade approached the school management in November last year to report inappropriate touches. As a result, the afterschool program employee was immediately suspended, and the matter was reported to the police. A notification sent through Aula (a parental communication platform used in Danish schools) from the school management to the parents led to further allegations of inappropriate behavior on the part of the employee.

The children’s testimonies were recorded on video and played back in court during closed sessions. Prosecutor Flemming Hother initially sought a sentence of one year and three months in prison, asserting that the children provided “credible and coherent” accounts. The man pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During the trial, he sat in a blue polo shirt, taking notes diligently while avoiding eye contact with the audience, which mainly consisted of parents and relatives of the affected children. After the verdict was delivered, the convicted man requested a 14-day period for consideration to contemplate a possible appeal.