Charges: Minnesota principal tried to hire 15-year-old prostitute

Fox9.com ^ | 5/19/2022 | Melissa Turtinen

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

A Savage middle school principal has been charged, accused of prostitution of a minor following an undercover police operation in St. Louis Park on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Park Police Department said Wednesday four men, including Eagle Ridge Middle School Principal Mohamed Selim, were arrested during the operation that involved undercover officers communicating with people who sought to buy sex from a minor. This operation was part of a coordinated statewide response aimed at ending human trafficking and exploitation, police said.

Three of the four men arrested were booked into jail and released, but Selim, 38, of Lakeville, was being held in jail "due to his position of authority working with children," police said.

Selim was charged Thursday in Hennepin County District Court with one count of prostitution of someone he believed to be between the ages 13-16. His first court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The cases involving the other three men have also been forwarded to the attorney’s office for a charging decision.

Selim is the principal at Eagle Ridge Middle School and was previously the principal at William Byrne Elementary School. Both schools are part of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District (District 191).

In a statement on Thursday, the district said it cannot share private personal information but it "can confirm" Selim "will not be at work at this time." Associate Principal Bill Heim will serve as acting principal.

"This is a hard day for the school and for the district," Superintendent Theresa Battle said in a statement. "It will be difficult for all of us to process this. At the same time, we will continue our commitment to providing a high-quality education and experience for students as we finish the school year."

[Trillian]

Pretty much everything. Predators go to where the prey is.