Two Harbors man sentenced to 7.5 years for 2024 sexual assault

Lake County closed a major felony case in Two Harbors on Monday when Hunter Earl Timo was sentenced to 90 months in prison, or seven and a half years, for second-degree criminal sexual conduct tied to a June 26, 2024 sexual assault.

Timo had pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026, after prosecutors said he entered a bedroom where the victim was asleep and engaged in sexual contact while knowing the person was physically helpless. The guilty plea ended the question of whether the contact occurred and moved the case from accusation to conviction months before the prison term was imposed.

The prosecution ran through an unusual but lawful channel for a local case. Lake County Attorney Lara Nygaard referred the matter to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office under a state statute that allows the attorney general to appear in certain criminal cases when requested by the county attorney. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigated the offense, and the Attorney General’s Office thanked local investigators and prosecutors for their work.

For Lake County, the case shows how serious felony charges can move through a layered court system without losing their local roots. The Lake County District Court in Two Harbors has original jurisdiction over criminal cases filed in the county, and Minnesota Court Records Online provides public access to many district court records and documents. The timeline in this case is now clear: the assault in June 2024, the guilty plea in January 2026, and the sentencing in May 2026.

The outcome leaves Timo facing a lengthy prison sentence and gives the victim and the community a completed court process after nearly two years of criminal proceedings. It also underscores the role of local law enforcement, county prosecutors and the state Attorney General’s Office when Lake County handles a serious sexual assault case that requires additional prosecutorial support.