Registered sex offender accused of posing as teenage girl to enroll in high school

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (Gray News) - A 29-year-old registered sex offender is accused of pretending to be a teenage girl to try to enroll in a high school.

According to KARE, Maple Grove Police Department was notified by a Maple Grove Senior High School staff member about a person who was trying to enroll at the school as a “homeless youth.” The person, later identified as Makayla Craig, allegedly said they were a 17-year-old named Molly from Oregon.

Craig, who was still claiming to be Molly, allegedly told police they had never attended school before and wanted to “get the full experience.” They also allegedly told investigators they were worried they might get mistaken for “Makayla Craig, a registered sex offender from Oregon.” When it was determined that they were in fact Craig, they were arrested.

“Craig never completed enrollment with Maple Grove Senior High School, and he was never present on campus as a student or in any online classes,” police said in a press release. “The Maple Grove Police Department credits the school district staff for their alertness with the incident, quick action to notify a school resource officer, and collaboration in the investigation. The case remains an active and ongoing investigation.”

KGW reports that in 2024, Craig was sentenced to 40 days in jail after claiming to be a “15-year-old homeless teenager named Madison” and enrolled at a high school in Oregon.

Craig was previously convicted of fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery and false swearing in 2025, and sexual abuse of a minor in 2023. They have a warrant out for their arrest in connection with an open theft case from May after failing to appear in court in July, according to KARE.

Craig’s bail was set at $200,000 without conditions and at $100,000 with conditions. Those conditions include a mental health evaluation, no contact with minors and staying three blocks away from K-12 schools, KARE reports.