School janitor accused of raping his 12-year-old adopted daughter
MINNEAPOLIS - Police say a janitor at a Minnesota elementary school raped his adopted daughter and stored child pornography on his school-issued computer.
CBS Minnesota reports that Brian Jeffery Cleveland, 54, was arrested on Aug. 19. Investigators say he attempted to delete the pornographic images in July, when he was first investigated for criminal sexual conduct.
The 12-year-old victim allegedly told police that she and Cleveland had a "bad secret." She then allegedly told police Cleveland had sexually abused her throughout the two years she has been in his care.
Investigators said the girl became very distraught during questioning, because "she didn't want to lose another" family.
The victim was placed with Cleveland after she was removed from her biological parents' care, CBS Minnesota reports.
Cleveland, who previously worked at Forest View Elementary School, in Forest Lake, Minn., denied possessing any child porn.
At Cleveland's home on Tuesday CBS Minnesota interviewed Rylee Prokosch, a 19-year-old who defended Cleveland and said the defendant was a father figure to him.
"I can't imagine him ever doing anything like this," Prokosch said. "He is innocent."
Cleveland is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 17.