In a shocking breach of school security, 22-year-old Kelvin Luebke has been arrested for allegedly using fraudulent documents and a fake identity to pose as a high school senior at White Bear Lake Area High School in Minnesota. The incident, which came to light in late September 2025, has ignited widespread concern over student safety and enrollment protocols. Luebke, who enrolled under the alias “KJ Perry” and joined the school’s football team, was taken into custody on Sunday and is currently detained in Anoka County Jail. Authorities are investigating multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, theft, and unlawful conduct involving minors, amid allegations of inappropriate interactions with students.
The case highlights vulnerabilities in public school enrollment systems, where state laws permit students up to age 21—or 22 in special education cases—to attend high school. White Bear Lake Area Schools maintains that its processes comply with these regulations, but the ease with which Kelvin Luebke allegedly infiltrated the system has prompted an internal review and calls for statewide reforms. Principal Russ Reetz notified parents via email, emphasizing the district’s commitment to safety while acknowledging the gravity of the lapse.
The Deception: Luebke’s Fraudulent Enrollment
Kelvin Luebke’s scheme began in early September 2025 when he presented himself at White Bear Lake Area High School as 17-year-old KJ Perry, a transfer student ready to complete his senior year. According to district officials, enrollment requires standard documentation: a birth certificate, proof of residency such as a utility bill or driver’s license, and immunization records. Luebke allegedly supplied forged versions of these, including a fake ID that misrepresented his age and identity.
Sources close to the investigation reveal Luebke’s background adds layers to the deception. Adopted from Liberia at age five, he had previously enrolled as a student-athlete at nearby Forest Lake Area High School from January 2022 to January 2023. During that time, he was convicted of sending explicit images to a 15-year-old minor, a fact that underscores the risks of his latest actions. Reports suggest Kelvin Luebke possesses multiple birth certificates, possibly contributing to his ability to fabricate records. He had been living with caretakers and may be dealing with age dysphoria, a condition where individuals feel disconnected from their chronological age, though this has not been confirmed as a motive.
The school’s enrollment office processed his application without immediate red flags, adhering to Minnesota state law that does not mandate advanced digital verification for all applicants. Exemptions exist for certain groups, including migrant students, which critics argue created loopholes. Kelvin Luebke’s documents passed initial scrutiny, allowing him to receive a student ID, class schedule, and access to campus facilities. He attended classes for approximately four weeks, blending in among peers who later described him as friendly but occasionally awkward.
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Principal Reetz’s email to families detailed the district’s protocols: “While enrolling this individual, we followed our enrollment process, which is as rigorous as state law allows.” Yet, parents question why physical appearance or behavioral cues did not trigger earlier intervention. One anonymous staff member reported to investigators that Luebke’s maturity was noticeable but dismissed as typical for older teens. The fraudulent setup not only granted academic access but positioned him within extracurriculars, amplifying the potential for harm.
This phase of the incident exposes systemic gaps. Minnesota’s education code prioritizes accessibility to prevent barriers for at-risk youth, but in Luebke’s case, it inadvertently enabled exploitation. District Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak has defended the system, stating in a prepared release that “our goal is to welcome legitimate students while protecting our community.” Nonetheless, the forgery’s sophistication—potentially involving altered official seals—points to premeditation, as confirmed by preliminary police findings.
Discovery and Arrest: From Reports to Custody
The unraveling of Luebke’s facade started with anonymous tips from vigilant students, staff, and parents who suspected the newcomer was not who he claimed. By mid-September, whispers about “KJ’s” odd demeanor and unsubstantiated backstory reached school administrators. On September 25, 2025, multiple reports flooded the principal’s office, prompting an immediate internal probe. Investigators cross-checked enrollment records against public databases, uncovering discrepancies in Luebke’s birthdate and prior addresses.
Within hours, the school confirmed his true identity: Kelvin Luebke, born in 2003, with a criminal history that included the prior conviction for distributing explicit material to a minor. Football team rosters listed him as a wide receiver, and scouting profiles from 2023—under his real name—linked him to adult-level play at Forest Lake. This digital trail, combined with witness statements, solidified the case. Luebke was confronted on campus that afternoon and escorted off property, with a temporary ban imposed pending legal action.
Local law enforcement, including White Bear Lake Police and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, joined the effort the next day. Detectives interviewed over a dozen students and reviewed surveillance footage, uncovering allegations of lewd conduct. Sources indicate Luebke had engaged in inappropriate conversations and physical interactions with at least one underage female student, escalating the charges beyond mere fraud. By Sunday, September 29, he was arrested without incident at a relative’s home in Plymouth, Minnesota, about 20 miles from the school.
In Anoka County Jail, Luebke faces a slate of felony counts: identity theft, forgery of public records, theft by deception, and lewdness or indecent exposure involving a minor. Prosecutors are also probing potential violations of sex offender registration laws, given his past. Bail was set at $50,000 during his initial appearance, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 10. Defense attorneys have not commented, but court filings note Luebke’s cooperation in providing the forged documents for forensic analysis.
Principal Reetz addressed the community in his email: “We received reports that an individual enrolled at White Bear Lake Area High School was over the age of 21 and promptly started an investigation. Please rest assured that the safety and well-being of all students is our top priority. I am grateful to the staff members, families, and students who saw something and decided to report it.” The football program, currently 2-3 on the season, removed Luebke from the roster retroactively, canceling his participation in two early games where he saw limited action.
The swift response mitigated further exposure, but not before shaking the 1,800-student campus. Counselors were deployed for support sessions, and attendance dipped slightly in the following week as families processed the news.
Aftermath: Community Outrage and Push for Reform
The arrest has reverberated beyond White Bear Lake, fueling a national dialogue on school security in the digital age. Parents packed a school board meeting on October 1, demanding transparency and accountability. One mother, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “This isn’t just about one man—it’s about a system that let him walk right in. Our kids deserve better than ‘as rigorous as state law allows.'” Students echoed these sentiments, with a 17-year-old football teammate telling reporters, “He seemed cool at first, but now we’re all looking over our shoulders.”
State Representative Elliott Engen, whose district includes parts of White Bear Lake, has taken a leading role in the backlash. In a letter to Superintendent Kazmierczak dated September 30, Engen called for the administrator’s immediate resignation, citing a “catastrophic lapse in basic enrollment verification.” He argued the incident reflects deeper failures, including over-reliance on self-reported documents. Engen is drafting legislation to mandate biometric or digital ID checks for all enrollees over age 16, while eliminating exemptions that he says disproportionately affect verification for migrant and homeless youth.
“This isn’t about punishing vulnerability—it’s about protecting children,” Engen stated in an interview. “If it’s done by the book and yet you have a 22-year-old posing as a 17-year-old, something went wrong.” His proposal has garnered bipartisan interest, with Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Carla Nelson pledging a hearing within weeks. The Minnesota Department of Education has launched a compliance audit of all 500+ districts, focusing on age verification tools.
White Bear Lake Area Schools, serving over 20,000 students across six buildings, faces heightened scrutiny. The district hired an independent firm to audit its processes, promising results by mid-October. Football games proceed under tightened security, with bag checks and ID scans now standard. Community watch groups have formed, training residents to spot imposters through apps like See Something, Say Something.
Luebke’s case also spotlights mental health angles. Experts note age dysphoria affects a small percentage of adults, often linked to trauma—as in Luebke’s adoption story—but stress it does not excuse criminality. Victim advocates are supporting the alleged minor, whose family has filed for a protection order.
As the investigation continues, this scandal serves as a stark reminder of evolving threats in education. With court dates looming and reforms in motion, White Bear Lake aims to rebuild trust, ensuring no child falls victim to deception again. The full scope of Luebke’s interactions remains under review, but one thing is clear: vigilance saved the day, and change is overdue.