In an update to a story Alpha News published in October, a former hall monitor at Eagle Ridge Academy in Minnetonka, Minn., has now been charged with three felony counts related to soliciting a minor for sex.
Ibrahim Hassan Haji, 27, of Hopkins was placed on leave from the school last October and then subsequently resigned from his position following his arrest on a probable cause charge of soliciting a minor for sex.
Haji was released from jail before being formally charged in October. However, he was charged by summons this past week with felony counts of soliciting a child for sex through electronic communication, engaging in electronic communication relating to sexual conduct with a child, and distributing electronic material that relates to sexual conduct with a child.
The charges filed in Hennepin County District Court describe that a school resource officer (SRO) at a Minnetonka high school began investigating after receiving a tip about a possible inappropriate relationship between a teacher named Mr. Haji and a student at another school in the area.
The SRO reviewed the school directory of the other school in the area and confirmed that Haji was listed as a hall monitor at the school. The student was a known 15-year-old female, referred to in the complaint as the victim.
Police reached out to the victim’s mother and informed her of the information they had received. The victim’s mother then obtained the victim’s phone and looked for any inappropriate messages. However, she believed that the messages had already been deleted. The victim’s mother gave the phone to police and provided consent to search/download the phone.
Detectives found a Snapchat contact labeled “Mr Hajis Sexy Ass.” The records contained information which indicated that there were approximately 469 messages between the phone and that account between Oct. 9 and Oct. 15, 2024. There were also 13 emails sent between the phone and an email account associated with Haji. In one of the emails, the victim asked for Haji’s Snapchat name and Haji provided it.
The phone also contained messages with other students, which included a message indicating that Haji had sent a video to the victim and suggesting that the victim had seen Haji’s penis. The victim later disclosed during a forensic interview that the two had talked about having sex and that Haji had sent her a picture of his penis.
Following Haji’s arrest, investigators received warrants and searched Haji’s phone. Haji’s cellphone records showed 799 messages between him and the victim via Snapchat. However, the message data could not be retrieved, as it appeared to have been deleted. Investigators located a message from Oct. 16, 2024, in which the victim informed Haji that the victim’s friend had reported them. On the same date, Haji’s phone entered a Google search for “is it a crime to talk to a minor,” and another Google search for “snapchat deactivation.”
Also located on Haji’s phone were at least 223 pictures and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving children that were not the victim. Some of the pictures and videos included prepubescent children. The evidence was located through the Telegram messaging app, which investigators state is a common place to share, store, buy, and trade CSAM, the complaint says. It’s unclear whether more charges may be added in relation to the CSAM found on Haji’s phone.
Haji is not currently in custody and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday, Jan. 23.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
