Prison Sentenced Handed Down for Child Predator
Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Hanford man Knute Mynderup, age 47, to 6 years in state prison for charges involving contacting a person he believed to be a minor for sexual offense, and meeting with a person he believed to be a minor for lewd purposes.
In late 2019, Mynderup engaged in online communications for almost two months with someone who he believed to be a 14-year-old child. That person was actually a detective from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office posing as a decoy as part of an investigation known as “Operation Safeguard” that targeted online sexual predators. Mynderup initiated the communication and messaged the decoy about various and detailed sex acts, sent her photos and a video that were sexual in nature, tried to meet up with her on multiple occasions, and told her not to tell anyone about the messages. On December 19, 2019, he went to meet the decoy in Visalia and was arrested by detectives upon arrival. Mynderup, 45-years-old at the time, had brought bottles of lubricant, a box of condoms, a vibrator, a male sex enhancement pill, alcohol, and a yoga outfit.
On December 9, 2021, Mynderup pleaded no contest to one felony count of meeting with a person believed to be a minor for lewd purposes, and six felony counts of contacting a minor for sexual offenses. In addition to his sentence, Mynderup must register as a sex offender for life. He was remanded into custody after the sentencing.
The case was prosecuted by deputy district attorney Kelly Habroun and was investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494