Former middle school employee charged with targeting minors in sextortion scheme

A Coon Rapids man who worked as a paraprofessional in special education faces charges of production of child pornography, interstate communications with intent to extort and enticement of a minor, according to a news release from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Glen Robert Anderson, 24, is accused of using a gaming forum and social media apps to groom minors into performing sexual acts with him to produce child pornography, according to court documents.

Anderson allegedly used his position as a gaming forum administrator to coerce children with in-game perks, privileges and other gifts. In one instance, Anderson is accused of using a teenage victim to produce explicit sexual content and threatening to release that content if the victim did not answer his demands.

The online gaming forum owned and administered by Anderson required participants to complete applications that divulged their ages, according to the release.

Anderson reportedly committed the crimes between April 2016 and August 2021. He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted.