A former middle school principal who attempted to solicit sex with a minor will serve no prison time under a proposed plea deal.
Mohamed Ali Selim, 38, of Lakeville was netted by law enforcement in May during an undercover sex trafficking/prostitution of minors sting operation and was charged with a felony count of prostitution — hires/offers/agree to hire an individual age 13 to 16.
The special enforcement detail was a multi-jurisdictional operation in which officers placed ads on multiple websites offering prostitution services.
Charges say Selim made arrangements by phone to visit an undercover agent posing as an underage prostitute.
Details from the charging document:
“During that recorded phone conversation, Defendant asked what the ‘session was like’ and if it was ‘full service.’ (Full service is commonly used in commercial sex to indicate sexual intercourse.)
‘UC’ (undercover) advised that she allowed full service but she had lied ‘a little’ in her ad and that she was actually younger than what the ad said. ‘UC’ told Defendant ‘I’m 15, but it’s not a problem for me if you’re fine with it.’ Defendant laughed and stated ‘Ok, that’s fine’ and then asked ‘So, you’re 15?’ Defendant then stated that it was too young and was not going to work, but then asked ‘UC’ where she was located. When advised that she was in St. Louis Park, Defendant asked if she was affiliated with police. Defendant then said that her age made him really nervous, but he would still come see her so they could ‘spend some time together.’ After they stopped talking via phone, Defendant messaged ‘UC’ to ‘let me know if I can come see you now. Please send me the address.’
Defendant was given an address being used by law enforcement to meet ‘UC’ which was located in St. Louis Park. When he arrived, he messaged ‘UC’ that he was there, tried to call ‘UC’ again and asked ‘UC’ if she had ‘incall’ (commonly used to mean allowing a patron to come to the prostitute’s home/hotel room/place where the sex for money transaction could occur). ‘UC’ advised that she did, but that she was walking to meet him and asked that he come pick her up at a nearby location. After Defendant arrived at the nearby location, he was placed under arrest. Defendant was distraught and made comments that his life/career was over.”
At the time of his arrest, Selim was the principal of Eagle Ridge Middle School in Savage, Minn. The school released a statement at the time saying, “Following these upsetting allegations, the district’s immediate and primary concern is for the well-being of our students,” the district said. “Based on the information the district has seen so far, there’s no indication that District 191 students are involved.” The school has since hired a replacement principal.
Selim on Friday agreed to the terms of a plea agreement devised between the prosecutor and Selim’s private attorney. The agreement proposes a stay-of-imposition on the felony sentence, which means Selim will plead guilty to a felony, but if he successfully completes probation for a term of up to three years, the conviction will be deemed a misdemeanor.
The plea agreement proposes a 30-day sentence in the workhouse. Minnesota only requires offenders to serve two-thirds of their sentence incarcerated, which would be 20 days. Selim would receive credit for the four days he already spent in jail after arrest, leaving 16 days remaining to serve. The agreement also proposes 30 days on Sentencing to Service, which involves work on community improvement or restoration projects. Selim would also be required to complete a psychosexual evaluation.
The judge must agree to the terms of the agreement at sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 4 in Hennepin County Court.
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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.
