The Minnesota Court of Appeals, over state officials’ objections, has upheld a decision to release from the Sex Offender Treatment program a man who sexually abused 41 children as an adolescent and young adult. 46-year-old Jerry Kerkhoff was originally prosecuted in Douglas County and in 1999, after a seven-year prison sentence, was committed as a sexually dangerous person. State Human Services officials have not said whether they’ll appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court. If released, Kerkhoff would be housed in an approved residence under G-P-S monitoring.