Duluth man found guilty of sexual assault and kidnapping

A jury found Dennis John Hannuksela, 64, guilty of two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree and two counts of Kidnapping on November 6, 2023.

This was the result of an incident on May 15, 2021 where Hannuksela took an adult female to a logging road in rural St. Louis County where he bound the victim nd assaulted her.

“The victim lived through a nightmare which required courage and resourcefulness to survive. Her heroic stand against Mr. Hannuksela was remarkable,” said Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Vicky Wanta.

Hannuksela’s sentencing date has not been scheduled. 

Hannuksela had been released on parole for a 1987 murder at the time of this assault.