Blaine teacher gets work release for filming up student's dress
A Blaine elementary school teacher was sentenced this month to a work-release program after admitting to filming up a student's dress, court records show. The case has drawn scrutiny from parents and local officials.
Authorities prosecuted the incident under state laws that bar interfering with a minor's privacy. The judge ordered the work-release sentence and court supervision rather than immediate prison time, court filings show.
The episode traces back to the classroom incident that led to criminal charges and a local investigation. National data suggest these events are not isolated: nearly one in ten students in grades 8 through 11 reported unwanted sexual misconduct by school employees during their school career, and reported school sexual assaults rose sharply in recent years.
Under Minnesota law, interference with a minor's privacy is typically a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine, and it can be elevated to a felony with prison terms up to four years when sexual intent or other conditions apply.
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đ Relevant Data
A 2004 U.S. Department of Education report found that 9.6% of students in grades 8 to 11 reported experiencing unwanted sexual misconduct by school employees during their school career. ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf))
Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature â U.S. Department of Education
Under Minnesota Statutes Section 609.746, interference with the privacy of a minor is typically a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $3,000, but can be elevated to a felony with penalties up to four years imprisonment if committed with sexual intent and other conditions are met. ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746)) ([Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.746))
Sec. 609.746 MN Statutes â Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
In the 2020-21 school year, U.S. public schools reported 2,700 incidents of sexual assault (other than rape) and 350 incidents of rape or attempted rape, representing a 53% increase in sexual assaults and a 95% increase in rapes/attempted rapes from the 2015-16 school year. ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www.ed.gov/media/document/sexual-violence-and-sex-based-harassment-or-bullying-us-public-schools-during-2020-21-school-year-21418.pdf))
Sexual Violence and Sex-Based Harassment or Bullying in U.S. Public Schools During the 2020-21 School Year â U.S. Department of Education
According to a 2004 U.S. Department of Education report, 86% of physical educator sexual misconduct incidents involved male perpetrators. ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf)) ([U.S. Department of Education](https://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/misconductreview/report.pdf))
Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature â U.S. Department of Education
đ Key Facts
- Defendant: Jason Allen Bassett, 56, of Blaine, former Jefferson Elementary teacher
- Conviction: Five gross-misdemeanor counts of interfering with the privacy of a minor for a June 2025 incident
- Sentence: 364 days in Anoka County jail with 358 days stayed, six days of work release, and four years of probation
- Incident details: Video shows Bassett moving a camera under the dress of a roughly 8â10-year-old student in his classroom and later admitting he did it "for the thrill of it"
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