Level 3 Predatory Offender Convicted Of Groping 12-Year-Old On Bus Wanted In Minnesota

Police lights — Representation. Minnesota authorities are searching for a 38-year-old man who reportedly broke conditions of his release. diegoparra/Pixabay

KEY POINTS

The Minnesota Department of Corrections is looking for a man who allegedly violated the conditions of his release
The man was convicted of criminal sexual conduct for groping a 12-year-old girl on a bus in 2017
He also has a prior third-degree burglary charge

The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking the public's help in finding a 38-year-old convicted predatory offender who allegedly violated the conditions of his release.

Brian Walter Landa is required to register as a level 3 predatory offender due to his past convictions and the possibility of re-offense, CBS News reported, citing the DOC.

Landa is now wanted on a federal warrant for failing to register and for violating the conditions of his release, authorities said.

Landa is often seen riding Metro Transit in the Minnesota cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, specifically near University Avenue West in St. Paul, the Nicollet Avenue area in Minneapolis and the intersection of Lake Street and 46th Avenue South in Minneapolis, according to DOC.

He was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for groping a 12-year-old girl on a bus in Minneapolis in 2017. He was also previously charged with third-degree burglary.

Landa is described as 5-foot-9 and weighs about 170 pounds. He has brown hair, a short boxed brown beard and blue eyes.

The DOC said he was last seen wearing a blue and gray hat, a black zip-up jacket and blue shoes with white laces.

DOC seeking wanted fugitive Brian Landa. He is wanted for failing to register as a predatory offender and violating conditions of release.

Known to frequently ride Metro Transit and be in area of University Ave in St. Paul, Nicollet Ave/Lake St/46th Ave S. in Minneapolis. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/MmHoWcZ70f
— Nick Streiff (@nickstreiff) November 4, 2022

The DOC asked anyone who sees him not to make contact with the 38-year-old but to instead call 911 or the DOC Fugitive Hotline at 651-775-5099 immediately.

"If seen, do not attempt to confront Mr. Landa, but do call 911 immediately," the DOC warned.

No other details about the case have been released as of this writing.

This comes not long after a sex offender who was convicted in Minnesota in 2008 turned himself in to Fayette County Sheriff's Office after he failed to report to authorities that he had moved to Iowa.

A warrant for the arrest of 43-year-old Daniel Joseph Schwering was issued after authorities received a tip that he was living in West Union and wasn't following Iowa's sex offender registry requirements, CBS Iowa reported.

Schwering was convicted in Minnesota on six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for victimizing a child under the age of 8 over a two-year period.

He is now in Fayette County Jail on a $500 bond.

The investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges could be made.