A longtime Ramsey County sheriff's deputy is facing felony charges after investigators say he sent sexually explicit messages to what he believed were teenage girls, who were actually undercover officers. Court filings identify the deputy as 34-year-old Chadd William Muellner. He was booked into the Washington County jail and later released on $25,000 bond. The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office has put Muellner on administrative leave and launched an internal investigation while the criminal case plays out.
Investigation details
According to the criminal complaint, investigators created a Kik account on March 20 portraying a 15-year-old. On March 25, a user identifying himself as "midwestguy0303" began sending messages. Over roughly two days, that account allegedly sent hundreds of chats and dozens of media files, activity that investigators say ultimately led them to Muellner, as reported by Pioneer Press.
The complaint states that between March 24 and March 26, the "midwestguy0303" account exchanged about 523 chat messages and 78 media files. Investigators say the Kik profile was registered with an email address beginning with "cwmuellner" and that they traced the online activity to a Verizon subscriber at a Maplewood address.
After visiting the home of Muellner's parents, investigators say they confirmed calls from his work phone. According to the complaint, Muellner later told officers his phone had been visibly smashed and was nearly unusable, and that he reset it because he was "panicked."
Questioned at the Washington County law enforcement center, Muellner allegedly told investigators the chats "weren't him" and warned that the situation would be a "career ender," the complaint says. A judge has ordered him to surrender any firearms and barred him from having unsupervised contact with minors while the case is pending. His next hearing is scheduled for August 2026. The sheriff's office says it has opened an internal probe, according to Pioneer Press.
Legal status and court orders
The Washington County Attorney's Office has charged Muellner with two felony counts of "engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child" under Minnesota law. If he is convicted, the offenses carry substantial potential prison time and fines. Any eventual sentence would depend on state guidelines and whether the case ends in a plea deal or goes to trial.
Ramsey County reaction and background
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office says it is running an internal investigation and has placed Muellner on leave, a standard move when a law enforcement employee faces serious criminal allegations. Court records show Muellner has worked for the sheriff's office for about 11 years.
The complaint also cites a statement from a former long-term partner, who described past issues involving online chats and the use of other people's photos in messages.
The case remains active, and prosecutors and the sheriff's office have not offered further public comment beyond what appears in court filings and records. Authorities say anyone with information can contact Washington County law enforcement or the county attorney's office.
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