CRIME & LAW

Minnesota Board Pardons Man Convicted of Child Rape

PUBLISHED Jul 1, 2026, 11:24 PM ET

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Minnesota — The Minnesota Board of Pardons on June 10 granted a pardon to Tou Lue Vang, a Laos national who had pleaded guilty to first‑degree sexual conduct in cases involving a 10‑year‑old girl between 2002 and 2006, according to a CRC notification letter from executive director Carli Stark and official records. Washington’s Department of Homeland Security on July 1 warned the pardon could affect an imminent deportation; Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Chief Justice Natalie Hudson served on the three‑person board that approved the clemency. The pardon removes the conviction from Vang’s record and restores his legal standing, enabling immediate legal challenges to removal proceedings this month.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

2002–2006: Alleged repeated sexual abuse of a 10-year-old, per court filings and DHS.
2005–2006: Tou Lue Vang pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual conduct under a plea deal, according to reporting.
June 10, 2024: Minnesota Board of Pardons approved a pardon for Vang following CRC recommendation.
June (following pardon): Carli Stark, CRC executive director, sent notification to Vang informing him of the pardon.
July 1, 2024: Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying the pardon could thwart imminent removal.

News Intelligence

This pardon could impact your community's safety. It potentially halts the deportation of a convicted child abuser, keeping him in the U.S. Be aware of the decisions your local pardon boards make. They can directly affect your neighborhood's security.

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Who Benefited

Tou Lue Vang benefited from the June 10 pardon, which cleared the conviction from his record and restored his legal standing, allowing him to contest imminent deportation and pursue relief under U.S. immigration law.

Who Impacted

The victim and her family, along with local communities and immigration enforcement efforts, suffered consequences as the pardon removes a criminal conviction that DHS said had supported imminent removal.

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