MANKATO, Minn. — New sexual assault charges have been filed against a Minnesota man who was pardoned by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and other officials in 2008.

Jeremy Giefer served time in jail in the 1990s for having sex with a 14-year-old girl he later married. Giefer was 19 at the time, was convicted of having sex with a minor and sentenced to 45 days in jail.

Pawlenty, Attorney General Lori Swanson and a former state Supreme Court chief justice voted to grant Giefer’s petition for a pardon two years ago. Now prosecutors in Blue Earth County have accused Giefer of assaulting a second girl hundreds of times before and after he received the pardon.

The Star Tribune reports Pawlenty spokesman Bruce Gordon defended the pardon, saying the vote for approval was unanimous.