Former Bemidji Assistant Principal Pleads Guilty To Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

Acting United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker announced the guilty plea of BRANDON MARK BJERKNES, 35, for coercion and enticement of a minor and production of child pornography. BJERKNES, who was charged and taken into custody on May 30, 2017, pleaded guilty today before Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minn.

“Brandon 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,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Munoz-Kaphing. “Due to a vigilant parent who initially reported disturbing social media messages, and the dedicated efforts of the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Bjerknes’ predatory actions were stopped.”

“This disturbing case is an example of why investigators must continue to identify and bring to justice those who would prey on children, and why parents must keep a watchful eye for predators lurking online,” said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans.

“The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office is very pleased to learn that Brandon M. Bjerknes has pleaded guilty to the two felony counts of coercion and enticement of a minor and production of child pornography. Our hope now is that the victims and their families can begin the process of healing and finding closure,” said Ernie Beitel, Chief Deputy Sheriff of the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, since 2006, BJERKNES was employed by the Bemidji Area Schools and, beginning in 2014, served as the Assistant Principal of Bemidji Middle School until his resignation in April 2017. While holding the position of Assistant Principal, BJERKNES posed as a 13-15-year-old male named “Brett Larson,” and used various social media profiles on Facebook and Snapchat with “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. BJERKNES also used the alias profiles to engage in sexually explicit conversations with the minor victims. Some of the minor victims BJERKNES contacted on social media were students at Bemidji Middle School.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on March 20, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at BJERKNES’ Bemidji residence. Officers seized a number of electronic devices including BJERKNES’ personal iPhone and work iPhone, multiple iPads, computers and external hard drives. The social media accounts and the electronic devices contained multiple sexually explicit photos and videos of multiple known minor victims. Law enforcement identified evidence that BJERKNES used the alias social media accounts to contact more than 50 minor victims.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Munoz-Kaphing.

Defendant Information:                                                                                                                     

BRANDON MARK BJERKNES, 35

Bemidji, Minn.

Convicted:

• Coercion and enticement of a minor, 1 count
• Production of child pornography, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600