Lakeville man charged for attempting to solicit sexual acts from a minor

A Lakeville man has been charged for attempting to solicit sexual acts from a minor, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Thursday.

Mohamed Selim, 38, faces one count of prostitution for his attempt to hire or agreeing to hire a child believed to be between the ages 13 to 16. This charge is a result of Selim responding to an advertisement for prostitution and engaging in a text conversation with a presumed 15-year-old minor who was an undercover police officer. The advertisements were placed on various websites by officers who were involved in an undercover sex trafficking and prostitution detail.

Selim is scheduled to make his first appearance May 20 at 1:30 p.m.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 17, Selim responded to the advertisement by texting the advertised number. Upon doing so, Selim connected with the undercover police officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.

The undercover officer provided rates to Selim, and Selim replied that he could, “head over now for a hhr,” or half hour.

In recorded phone conversations, Selim was informed that the minor was 15 years old. Although noting that her age made him nervous, he stated that he could meet her to “spend some time together,” the complaint states. The conversation shifted to text messages, at which time Selim told the undercover officer to, “let me know if I can come see you now. Please send the address.”

The undercover officer provided Selim an address, and upon arriving, Selim messaged and called the undercover officer, whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl. The undercover officer told Selim that they were walking to meet him and would like to be picked up at a nearby location, the complaint says.

When Selim got to the location, he was arrested. Officers obtained his cell phone, to which officers had sent confirmatory text messages and phone calls.

View the criminal complaint (PDF).