A 29-year-old registered sex offender was arrested Thursday after authorities say he attempted to enroll in a Minnesota high school by pretending to be a teenage girl.
Makayla Craig was taken into custody on a public parking ramp following an investigation sparked by enrollment attempts at Maple Grove High School, located just outside of Minneapolis, according to charging documents. Investigators stated that Craig claimed to be a homeless 17-year-old girl named Molly who had recently arrived from Oregon.
When questioned by police, Craig explained that he had never attended school properly and wanted to experience what it was like. Authorities noted that during the interview, the suspect expressed concern that someone might recognize him as Makayla Craig, a registered sex offender originally from Oregon. Police subsequently confirmed the suspect’s true identity.
Despite the enrollment attempt, school officials prevented any direct access. Police confirmed that Craig never completed the enrollment process, nor was he ever present on campus as a student or admitted to any online classes. Local law enforcement praised the school district staff for their vigilance and quick action in notifying a school resource officer, which enabled a rapid collaborative investigation.
Court records and prior reporting reveal a pattern of similar behavior. In 2024, Craig was sentenced to 40 days in jail after successfully enrolling in an Oregon high school by posing as a 15-year-old homeless girl named Madison. Furthermore, Oregon court records show that Craig was convicted in 2023 of the sexual assault of a minor, and subsequently convicted in 2025 of fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery, and false swearing. Authorities also noted that an active warrant exists for Craig’s arrest stemming from an open theft case in May and a failure to appear in court in July.
Following the arrest at the Maple Grove parking ramp, Craig was booked into the Hennepin County Jail. During a court appearance on Friday, a judge set bail at $200,000 without conditions, or $100,000 with conditions. The mandated conditions require Craig to have no contact with minor children, maintain a distance of at least three blocks from any schools, have no contact with Maple Grove High School, and strictly obey all laws.
Craig currently faces three felony charges, including two counts of aggravated forgery and one count of forgery. The next court appearance is scheduled for November 18, and police stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
