After Alpha News revealed that the nonprofit food shelf Second Harvest Heartland was paying its CEO more than $700,000 a year, we’ve now learned that the organization also employed a convicted sex offender—who appears to have spent time in prison—as its controller.
Court records indicate that Daniel Fuhrman pleaded guilty in 1997 to multiple counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
In one case, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison and required to register as a sex offender, according to state records. In the other, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison but his sentence was stayed for 20 years and he remained on probation until 2017, court records show.
Then in 2006, Fuhrman pleaded guilty to solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct and was on probation until July 2020, according to court records.
A 2010 document from the Minnesota Board of Accountancy sheds some additional light on the cases.
“The letter indicated that Respondent (Fuhrman) had entered two guilty pleas, the first in 1997 for three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the 2nd degree and the second in 2006 for one count of solicitation for ‘making an inappropriate comment.’ Respondent further stated that he was incarcerated and completed a sex offender treatment program and after-care program in connection with the first guilty plea,” the document says.
“In a letter dated April 15, 2009, Respondent (Fuhrman) indicated that the 2006 plea was in connection with an inappropriate conversation with sexual overtones with a minor child who was Respondent’s neighbor at the time,” it adds.
The document was related to the denial of his “application for a certificate to practice as a CPA,” subject to the right to reapply.
Even so, his LinkedIn says he was hired by Second Harvest in 2008 and served as controller until March 2025, earning nearly $150,000 annually as of 2022.
Second Harvest Heartland says it only became aware of Fuhrman’s criminal record during a recent background check.
In a statement to Alpha News, Second Harvest Heartland said, “Mr. Fuhrman no longer works at Second Harvest Heartland. The organization conducted background checks related to ongoing compliance processes during February of 2025, during which Mr. Fuhrman’s criminal history was discovered.”
Second Harvest silent on whether youth volunteers were exposed to sex offender
The organization did not answer specific questions about whether Fuhrman ever interacted with youth volunteers, who frequently assist in Second Harvest’s warehouse packing activities.
The food shelf has a long-standing practice of involving minors as young as eight years old as part of volunteering and school-organized events.
It’s always a joy to have students in our volunteer center! They are working hard this Monday morning starting the week off helping their community. #foodbanking #endhungertogether pic.twitter.com/fwvarfSlin
— Second Harvest Heartland (@2harvest) May 22, 2023
Looking ahead, the nonprofit said that “under current Second Harvest Heartland leadership, all prospective employees must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to beginning employment.”
As Alpha News reported, Second Harvest has been actively lobbying at the Capitol this session, seeking taxpayer funding to address what it describes as record-breaking demand for food assistance.
They’ve also taken to the air waves.
WCCO listeners give $416,000 to Second Harvest Heartland
Just weeks before Alpha News reported that Second Harvest Heartland’s outgoing CEO Allison O’Toole received more than $721,000 in annual compensation, WCCO Radio listeners donated over $416,000 to the organization during its 16th annual “End Hunger Together Radiothon.”
The 12-hour event, held onsite at Second Harvest’s Brooklyn Park warehouse, featured live broadcasts and appearances from WCCO personalities including Jason DeRusha—who also serves on the nonprofit’s board of directors.
ON @WCCORadio: @DeRushaJ was just on with @2harvest CEO @allison_otoole to discuss the newly released Statewide Hunger Study and ways to volunteer to end hunger in Minnesota! #EndHungerTogetherRadiothon pic.twitter.com/vOvEfIUFqO
— Second Harvest Heartland (@2harvest) February 4, 2025
“WCCO listeners always show up for the state of Minnesota,” O’Toole said during the February event, according to a WCCO Radio article. “At a time when one in five families are living with food insecurity, we need everyone at the table to turn the tide.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
