South St. Paul resident Edwing Centeno Rivera, 25, has been charged with a felony after prosecutors allege he used online communications to share sexual material with someone he reasonably believed was a child. The criminal complaint filed in Dakota County lists one count of electronic solicitation of a child tied to alleged conduct on Friday. Rivera is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County District Court and reported by Limitless Media News, Rivera is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.352.2a(3). Prosecutors say he distributed material that "relates to or describes sexual conduct" to a person he reasonably believed was a child, using an electronic device, computer system or communications network. The portion of the complaint reviewed by Limitless contained few additional investigative details.
What The Charge Means Under State Law
Minnesota's electronic solicitation statute makes it a felony for an adult to use electronic communications to solicit a child, engage in sexual communication with a child, or distribute sexual material to a child. Under Minnesota Statute 609.352, a conviction under subdivision 2a can result in up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. For the purposes of this law, a "child" is defined as 15 years old or younger.
Local Trend And Related Prosecutions
Across the Twin Cities metro, prosecutors and police have been bringing a steady stream of online solicitation cases, often building them through electronic messages and undercover accounts. In a recent case highlighted by FOX 9, an alleged volunteer was charged after sending messages to an account he believed belonged to a 14 year old, a reminder of how these investigations can unfold behind a screen.
What Happens Next In The Case
As Limitless Media News notes, the complaint made public so far offers limited detail on how the investigation developed. Additional information is likely to emerge through future court filings and hearings.
Members of the public can follow the case through Minnesota Court Records Online at Minnesota Court Records Online or by watching for statements from the Dakota County Attorney's Office.
The charge remains an allegation at this stage, and Rivera is entitled to due process as the case moves through Dakota County District Court. Upcoming court dates and new filings will outline the next steps in the proceedings.
