Elementary Janitor Accused Of Raping 12-Year-Old Adopted Daughter
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A janitor at a Washington County elementary school is accused of raping his preteen adopted daughter and possessing a large amount of child porn on his school-issued computer.
Brian Jeffery Cleveland, 54, of Linwood Township, works inside elementary schools in the Forest Lake School District.
Investigators say they searched Cleveland's home and found a laptop that belongs to the school district, with a large amount of recently deleted child porn images. They were deleted in July, during the time he was under investigation for criminal sexual conduct.
Court documents show within the last month Anoka County investigators talked with Cleveland's 12-year-old adopted daughter.
Investigators said the girl told them she and Cleveland had a "bad secret" -- she has been sexually abused inside his home for the two years she's been in his care.
Investigators said the girl became very distraught when they asked about what happened because "she didn't want to lose another" family.
She was placed with Cleveland after she was removed from her biological parents' care.
Police arrested Cleveland last Wednesday. He denied possessing any child porn.
Officials with Forest Lake Area Schools said Cleveland worked at Forest View Elementary and that he is still employed but not currently assigned to any buildings.
The district emailed families whose children go to Forest View Elementary, as well as the nearby Forest Lake Elementary, saying an investigation is underway and that there's no reason to believe any students were involved in any wrongdoing.
The district said it became aware of the child porn accusations the day Cleveland was arrested.
While the school year has not yet begun, parents who were watching their children play on Forest View Elementary School's playground were talking about the situation with Cleveland.
One mother, Leigh Potvin, has four school-aged children.
"It is definitely scary," Potvin said. "This is school, where they are supposed to feel safe from the minute the walk through the doors until they get on the bus to go home."
WCCO stopped by Cleveland's home in Linwood to try to talk with him. Three people at the house said he was staying with relatives.
Nineteen-year-old Rylee Prokosch said he considers Cleveland to be his stepfather.
He told WCCO he grew up with Cleveland, inside the same home where he is accused of sexually abusing his adopted daughter.
"He's been a great father figure to me. ... I can't imagine him ever doing anything like this," Prokosch said. "He is innocent."
He is not currently in custody. He posted bond and is slated to appear in court on Sept. 17.
In the meantime, he must remain law-abiding, have no contact with children and not use the internet without approval.
If convicted, Cleveland faces up to a lifetime in prison.