On January 18, 2023, 42-year-old Aren Hatton went to the home of 41-year-old J.P. in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, after she called and asked him to snow-blow her driveway. Three years earlier, Hatton, who was married, had had an affair with J.P.
The following day, J.P.’s aunt reported to Lincoln County Sheriff’s officers that Hatton had sexually assaulted J.P.
On January 20, two days later, police went to Hatton’s home. Hatton’s wife consented to a search. During the search, the police found a syringe which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Police interviewed Hatton, who said he had been home all day on January 18 because heavy snow had closed the school where his children attended.
On January 23, 2023, Hatton was charged with four counts of criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping.
He went to trial in Lincoln County District Court on July 12, 2023.
J.P. testified that she and Hatton had had an affair in 2020, but after it ended, she blocked him on social media. Nonetheless, she said she called him to snow-blow her driveway and he arrived at about 10 a.m. She said she sat on the couch watching a movie covered with a blanket. She testified that Hatton was pacing back and forth, prompting her to believe that he was “on something.”
She said Hatton then went back to her bedroom and called her to come back there.
She said she refused, so he came to the living room, grabbed her wrist and pulled back to the bedroom. She said that he sexually assaulted her, biting or sucking on her face, and leaving hickies on her neck. She said that Hatton could not achieve an erection, but penetrated her with his fingers. She said that at his demand, she masturbated herself with a sex toy.
She said this lasted for at least five hours. Hatton never ejaculated, she said. At one point, her sister called and when J.P. said that Hatton was there, her sister jokingly called her a “house bitch.”
Eventually, J.P. said Hatton got up to use the bathroom and said, before leaving, that he would come back and clear her driveway.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy Jacob Jensen testified that he interviewed J.P. on January 21, 2023. He said he saw red marks on the side of her face, although he could not recall which side of her face. He also said he saw red marks around her neck and upper chest. He said he took J.P. to the Pipestone Medical Center for an examination. A rape kit was taken. Jenson said that his conversation with J.P. enroute to the medical center was recorded on his squad car camera, but admitted the video had not been disclosed to the defense.
Jenson said that he interviewed Hatton the following day, and that Hatton told him he had been home all day with his children because the school was closed due to the snow.
Testing of the cervical swab revealed sperm cells which were confirmed by DNA testing to be Hatton’s DNA, despite J.P.’s testimony that Hatton never achieved an erection and did not penetrate her with his penis.
The medical report of J.P.’s examination was entered into evidence. The report said that J.P. did not have any bite wounds.
Over the objection of the defense, the prosecution introduced the syringe to support J.P.’s assessment that Hatton was under the influence when he arrived.
Hatton testified that he arrived after 11 a.m., they went to the bedroom and had consensual sex. He said J.P. questioned him about a two-week old tattoo on his arm bearing his wife’s name. He said they argued about it after she asked why he had gotten it when he was spending time with her.
Hatton said he got out of the bed because J.P. was angry and crying. He said he was putting on his clothes and getting ready to leave when J.P. asked him to fix her toilet. He said he repaired the toilet and left.
Hatton said he did not disclose to Jenson that he had been with J.P. because he thought Jenson was doing a drug investigation. Hatton admitted he used methamphetamine on January 18, but it was in the evening—after he went to J.P.’s home.
On July 13, 2023, the jury convicted Hatton of one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping. Judge Tricia Zimmer sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
Hatton appealed, and then was granted permission to return to the District Court to file a motion for post-conviction relief.
By that time, the defense had obtained and viewed the squad car video. The motion contended that the video showed “very clearly” that J.P. had no “marks on her face or neck.”
“This evidence is not only exculpatory, but could have been used to impeach both [the] testimony of (J.P.) and the investigation and testimony of Deputy Jensen—the only witnesses who claimed that the marks existed,” the motion said.
The video also supported the credibility of the medical report made after J.P.’s examination at the medical center, the motion said.
Judge Zimmer denied the motion without a hearing, and the case returned to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
On April 21, 2025, the Court of Appeals vacated the kidnapping conviction for insufficient evidence. The court also ruled that the introduction of the syringe was unfairly prejudicial to Hatton.
“Because the syringe evidence tends to prove only that Hatton uses methamphetamine, which is not related to any element of the charged offenses, its probative value is substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice and could have confused or misled the jury,” the court declared.
The case was remanded for a new trial on the remaining charge of criminal sexual conduct.
On August 7, 2025, Hatton was released on bond.
On April 20, 2026, the prosecution dismissed the case.
– Maurice Possley
Posting Date: 05-21-2026
