DULUTH – An Eveleth man with a felony warrant for “obscene internet conduct with a child” is in custody at the St. Louis County jail awaiting extradition to Georgia, where the investigation is based.
According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the 51-year-old man was employed by Rock Ridge High School, though they do not believe there were any local victims. The Minnesota Star Tribune generally does not name suspects until they are formally charged.
The Sheriff’s Office received information from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension earlier this month with two tips about a man receiving “child sexual abuse material.” One involved the solicitation of a minor living in Fulton County in Georgia. Local law enforcement officials found the suspect, questioned him and used search warrants at his home and workplace to collect evidence.
The man was arrested Tuesday.
In a letter to families and staff, Superintendent Noel Schmidt said the man had been placed on administrative leave earlier this month and is not permitted on school property “as the legal process unfolds.”
“We understand this news is deeply concerning,” Schmidt wrote. “Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority and we will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement officials in their investigation.”
Schmidt asked that anyone with information pertaining to the case contact the police. Counselors were made available to support students struggling with the news, he said.
The BCA contacted the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department on March 5 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found “child exploitation material” on an electronic service provider’s network, according to a news release from the county. The Sheriff’s Department’s investigation led them to the Eveleth man, who worked at the high school, which serves Eveleth, Gilbert and Virginia on the Iron Range.
