VIRGINIA — Chris Chad, an administrator at Rock Ridge High School accused of exploiting a child online, allegedly stated a minor could transfer to Minnesota and “have fun” in a blind spot of the school’s camera system.
Local authorities arrested Chad on March 18 and held him in St. Louis County Jail pending extradition to Fulton County, Georgia, where he was officially booked Monday, April 7. He’s facing 11 counts of obscene internet contact with a child and one count of using a computer service to seduce, solicit, lure or entice a child to commit an illegal act.
A criminal warrant, obtained by Iron Range Today and signed by Fulton County Judge Jennifer Neal-Jones, provided previously undisclosed information about the investigation. This includes an alleged exchange where Chad explained to the victim “where there is a blind spot in the cameras at his school where they could ‘have fun’ if he transferred to Chris’ work in Minnesota.”
It also alleges Chad was communicating with a suspected minor in Colorado and a known predator in Washington, according to tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in January, which helped launch the investigation. Minnesota authorities are investigating Chad for potential crimes committed in the state.
Fulton County court staff said an initial hearing had not been scheduled as of Monday afternoon.
Rock Ridge officials and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office have said there was no indication any local students were victims or involved with the case. The arrest affidavit, signed by AJ Conley of the Alpharetta Police Department, suggested “the suspect claimed to be engaged in sexual activity with minors in the past.”
Previous reporting on search warrants from St. Louis County alleged that Chad sent messages while at work and on school grounds, and included pictures of the Rock Ridge auditorium.
According to the Georgia criminal warrant, Chad allegedly used the messenger app Kik to communicate with a male thought to be around 12 years old and enrolled in a Fulton County middle school. It alleged Chad used the Kik username mr.cheese2024_qac, which was apparently tied to the email address egmathteacher@yahoo.com.
Chad was most recently the dean of students at Rock Ridge High School, and previously served as a math teacher in the Eveleth-Gilbert district prior to the consolidation with Virginia, which formed Rock Ridge.
Authorities said the victim asked Chad how young he liked boys, and he allegedly replied between “12-13” years of age. They also claimed Chad told the victim he was the dean of students at a school, but that he didn’t want to initially because the boy “might not like him.”
Rock Ridge placed Chad on paid administrative leave in early March after authorities executed search warrants at the high school. He’s since been removed from the school’s online directory. Superintendent Dr. Noel Schmidt told Iron Range Today on March 21 that he had no update on Chad “as of this minute,” but to “stay tuned.”
Education Minnesota Rock Ridge Local 7394 told Iron Range Today on March 27 that Chad was still a member of the teachers’ union and it could not comment “on pending personnel matters with the district.”
The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board said it “cannot confirm cases or disclose information relating to the active investigation,” but Chad remained a licensed teacher as of Monday. A conviction on these charges could trigger an automatic revocation of his license, which expires in 2030.
Chad was hired as the high school dean of students in August at a salary of $90,420. He spent the previous 13 years between Rock Ridge and the former Eveleth-Gilbert district as a math teacher.
A letter of interest written to the Rock Ridge School Board upon his promotion said he was a teacher for 20 years.
In addition to teaching, he coached the One Act Play for both schools and was the assistant spring play director, roles he stepped back from this year. Formerly, he was the JV Speech coach at Eveleth-Gilbert High School.
Editor’s Note: Jerry Burnes, co-founder of Iron Range Today and author of this story, is the vice-chair/secretary of the Rock Ridge Performing Arts Guild, which helps support the Speech team, One Act and spring plays, but is not directly affiliated with the district. Burnes has not worked directly with Chris Chad while in this role.
Leah Ryan, co-founder of Iron Range Today and editor of this story, is currently the JV Speech coach at Rock Ridge High School. Ryan has not worked directly with Chris Chad while in this role.