NEW HOPE, Minn. — An 18-year-old woman was sentenced to more than six years in prison for her role in an attack on a man in a New Hope park.
Court documents indicate that Kristy Hanson of Plymouth will serve a sentence of 74 months (6.1 years) in the Shakopee Women's Correctional Facility after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree assault leading to great bodily harm. In exchange for the plea, a more serious charge of aiding and abetting first-degree attempted murder was dropped.
The criminal complaint filed against Hanson details how squads were dispatched to Civic Center Park in New Hope on July 25, 2023, on reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, bystanders directed officers to a man who was covered in blood and had obvious stab wounds to his neck and chest. The victim was rushed to a local hospital and treated for 10 separate lacerations and puncture wounds.
Witnesses told police they heard screaming and ran to the park pavilion where they found a man, later identified as 21-year-old Chong Vang, on the victim. They said Vang kept saying the victim was a rapist. After the bystanders pleaded with him, Vang eventually got up and fled the park.
Police recovered surveillance video that captured both the attack and events that proceeded it, including footage from the nearby Hy-Vee store that showed the victim entering the store and purchasing a soda. While he was making the purchase, a woman could be seen taking a photo of the victim. Police soon identified her as 18-year-old Kristy Hanson.
The court documents say investigators learned where Hanson lived, went to the address and found both her and the alleged attacker Vang. Both were taken into custody.
When questioned Hanson reportedly told detectives that she had been dating Vang for about 10 months and during the relationship, she told him that a group of at least five men had sexually assaulted her previously. She provided the names to Vang, including the name of the man who would become victim of the attack. During the interview Hanson allegedly told investigators Vang promised he would get "injustice" for her, and they discussed how he would kill the individuals if he found them.
The complaint says Hanson admitted the couple went to Hy-Vee on July 26 looking for one of the alleged rapists and saw his car in the parking lot. After finding the man inside the store, Hanson told police she took his picture and called Vang. Following the attack, prosecutors say the defendant picked Vang up in a vehicle, took him to a nearby YMCA to wash the blood off, and then reportedly took him to Target to buy him some new clothes. They then returned to her home.
Investigators recovered Hanson's journal and found an entry that read "On Wed July 26 Justice was served."
Minnesota law calls for Kristy Hanson to serve two-thirds of the 6.1-year sentence. She will be credited for 227 days already served.
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