Sacred Heart Man Enters Alford Plea in Child Sex-Abuse Case

A Sacred Heart man has entered an Alford plea in a child sexual-abuse case involving four children at a Renville daycare.

Sixty-three-year-old Darrel Hanson pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Under an Alford plea, Hanson maintains his innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him at trial. The plea will be treated as a conviction for sentencing.

Six additional charges will be dismissed under the plea agreement. Hanson is scheduled to be sentenced October 19th.

The incidents occurred between January 2023 and August 2025.