Published: November 4th, 2026.
WEST SAINT PAUL, MN - A 27-year-old man faces four felony charges in Dakota County District Court after authorities located a missing Minnesota juvenile at a residence in Texas.
Carlos Ivan Rivera Rodreiguez (DOB: 12/18/1998) was charged by prosecutors following an investigation initiated by the West St. Paul Police Department.
According to the criminal complaint, officers received a report on May 22nd, 2026, regarding a missing juvenile, identified in court documents as Victim A. The child's mother informed law enforcement that her daughter had run away and that she believed the juvenile had gone to meet an adult male.
On May 25th, 2026, an investigator spoke further with the mother, who provided a screenshot of the suspect's Facebook profile containing a photo of his vehicle. Law enforcement traced the vehicle registration to Rivera Rodreiguez. Officers attempted to locate the juvenile at Rivera Rodreiguez's residence multiple times over the following days without success.
The investigation shifted out of state on June 1, 2026, when Victim A's aunt informed investigators that she had been in communication with the juvenile and believed she was in Texas. After obtaining a search warrant for location data linked to Victim A's Snapchat account, investigators identified a probable location in Richardson, Texas, on June 9, 2026.
Officers with the Richardson Police Department responded to the Texas address. Upon their arrival, Rivera Rodreiguez allegedly sprinted out the back door and attempted to scale a rear fence to escape before running back inside the residence and closing the door. Rivera Rodreiguez was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
Prosecutors have charged Rivera Rodreiguez with three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Third Degree under Minnesota Statute § 609.344, Subd. 1a(b). The complaint alleges that between April 1, 2026, and May 30, 2026, Rivera Rodreiguez engaged in sexual penetration with a person at least 14 but less than 16 years of age, and that he was more than 24 months older than the victim. Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine ranging from $9,000 to $30,000.
Rivera Rodreiguez also faces one felony count of Deprivation of Custodial/Parental Rights (Cause Minor to be Runaway) under Minnesota Statute § 609.26, Subd. 1(8). Prosecutors allege that between May 22, 2026, and May 30, 2026, Rivera Rodreiguez—being at least 18 years old and more than 24 months older than the child—caused or contributed to a child being a runaway. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to two years imprisonment and a fine ranging from $1,200 to $4,000.
As with all criminal proceedings, a complaint contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.