A Minnesota resident, Qalinle Dirie, 42, has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison for the abduction and sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. The incident occurred in June 2024, in Minneapolis, and Dirie was convicted in May for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Despite being a first-time offender, Dirie continues to deny the charges, according to court records.
The victim reported that she had seen Dirie frequently driving past her house in a white, four-door Toyota. The assault occurred when the girl was playing in her backyard and Dirie approached her, asking if her mother was home. When she responded negatively, he left, only to return ten minutes later. He then forcibly took her into his car and sexually assaulted her.
The girl managed to escape and run back home, where she hid in the bathroom for some time. She later reported the incident to her school counselor, leading to a sexual assault examination at the Hennepin County Medical Center.
A month after the incident, a family member discovered ignored calls from a “Mohamed Muuse” on the victim’s phone, believed to be Dirie. The girl’s older brother began messaging the caller via Snapchat and even answered one of Dirie’s calls. The brother then invited Dirie to their home, pretending to be the victim, in an attempt to confront him.
Upon Dirie’s arrival, he attempted to flee when he saw the brother and the victim’s step-father waiting for him. The police were called, and Dirie was taken into custody. Initially, he denied knowing the victim but later claimed she had told him she was 19 years old.
During the sentencing, Hennepin County prosecutors criticized Dirie for showing no remorse or understanding of the harm he had caused the victim. They also noted his refusal to acknowledge his harmful behavior, suggesting he was not a suitable candidate for individualized sex offender treatment.
Dirie and his defense lawyer attempted to solicit mercy from the court by having family members, including his father, submit statements. However, none of these statements acknowledged the victim or the crime, leading prosecutors to suggest that the family was either unaware of Dirie’s conviction or dismissive of his crime.