A Minnesota teacher and cross-country coach has been arrested and charged after allegedly sending sexually explicit Snapchat messages and photos to a 16-year-old student he was coaching.
Sutton Thomas Junkermeier, 26, of Lake Lillian, Minnesota, was taken into custody following an investigation by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident came to light after the teen’s guardian reported the inappropriate contact to deputies. The student, who was 16 years old, told investigators that Junkermeier reached out through Snapchat using the username “Sutton_Junk.”
What started as seemingly ordinary conversations about cross-country, college, and sports eventually took a disturbing turn when Junkermeier began sending explicit photographs of himself.
The images reportedly showed him partially clothed, shirtless, and in other photos depicted his anatomy covered only by Snapchat filters and emojis.
Messages accompanying the photos included statements like “We best not tell anyone about this,” “This is the best you getting bro,” and “I know last night got a little crazy but let’s keep this between us.”
The incident reportedly occurred on June 23, 2026. On June 26, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Junkermeier’s Lake Lillian home.
He initially denied sending any inappropriate images but later confessed to sending both shirtless and explicit photographs.
From the Classroom to Criminal Charges
Junkermeier graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead and had been working in education since the 2021-22 school year, when he began teaching social studies at Crookston High School.
He also served as a track and field coach there. He remained at Crookston through the 2024-25 school year before returning to his hometown area to take a position at Atwater Cosmos Grove City School, where he taught and served as head cross-country coach.
The Minnesota High School League website listed him as the head cross-country coach at that school.
Following his arrest, Kip Lynk, superintendent of Atwater Cosmos Grove City Public Schools, confirmed that Junkermeier had been placed on administrative leave.
Multiple Felony Counts Filed
Junkermeier now faces three criminal counts. The charges include Felony Harassment targeting a victim under 18 with sexual or aggressive intent, Felony Harassment targeting a victim under 18 where the accused is at least 36 months older than the victim, and Gross Misdemeanor Harassment.
The case has drawn attention across the region given Junkermeier’s prior employment at Crookston High School, where he also worked with student athletes during his four years there.
Authorities have not publicly indicated whether any additional victims have come forward in connection with his time at either school district.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no trial date has been announced at this time.
