Bemidji, Minnesota – A shocking case of child exploitation has come to light in Bemidji, Minnesota, as former assistant principal Brandon Mark Bjerknes, 35, pleaded guilty to coercing minors into sending explicit photos and videos.
According to the guilty plea and court documents, Bjerknes was employed by the Bemidji Area Schools and served as the Assistant Principal of Bemidji Middle School until his resignation in April 2017. During this time, he posed as a 13-15-year-old male named ‘Brett Larson’ on social media platforms Facebook and Snapchat, using decoy photographs to contact minor females and males in middle and high school.
Using the alias profiles, Bjerknes directed the minor victims to send him sexually explicit photographs and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them. Some of the minor victims he contacted were students at Bemidji Middle School.
On March 20, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Bjerknes’ Bemidji residence, seizing electronic devices including his personal iPhone and work iPhone, multiple iPads, computers, and external hard drives. The social media accounts and devices contained multiple sexually explicit photos and videos of multiple known minor victims.
The investigation, conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, identified evidence that Bjerknes used the alias social media accounts to contact over 50 minor victims.
Defendant Information: Brandon Mark Bjerknes, 35, Bemidji, Minnesota. Convicted: Coercion and enticement of a minor, 1 count, Production of child pornography, 1 count.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Munoz-Kaphing, Bjerknes ‘repeatedly victimized vulnerable young girls and boys, many of whom he personally knew because of his former role as Assistant Principal of Bemidji Middle School.’
This disturbing case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for parents to keep a watchful eye for predators lurking online.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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