A 20-year-old Minnesota man believed to be assigned to Fort Bragg was arrested in North Carolina after authorities secured a nationwide extradition warrant tied to felony child sexual abuse material charges.
Landon Elias Rudolph, formerly of Pine Island, Minnesota, was booked into the Cumberland County Detention Center on May 26 after investigators in Goodhue County, Minnesota accused him of multiple felony offenses involving child sexual abuse material and electronic communications with minors.
After Zumbrota Police Department secured a nationwide extradition warrant for Rudolph, he was arrested in North Carolina with the assistance of Army CID at Fort Bragg.
Court records reviewed by The Salty Soldier show Rudolph is accused of:
- two counts involving the use of minors in sexual performances/child sexual abuse material,
- possession of child sexual abuse material,
- and engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child.
North Carolina records show the alleged offense timeline spans from July 6, 2025, through May 27, 2026.
Cumberland County court records show Rudolph’s bond at $250,000 secured following his arrest.
Additional investigative details were first reported by local Minnesota news outlet, which reported that investigators alleged Rudolph used Snapchat to communicate with juveniles and solicit sexually explicit photos and videos. According to that reporting, one juvenile told investigators Rudolph repeatedly pressured her for nude images despite allegedly knowing she was 16 years old.
Investigators also allegedly uncovered communications involving a second 16-year-old juvenile. Authorities reportedly believe Rudolph saved sexually explicit material involving the second juvenile to his personal phone.
According to the court documents reviewed by the Post Bulletin, Rudolph denied contact with the second juvenile and claimed he believed the first juvenile was 18.
The investigation appears to have extended beyond Rudolph alone. Zumbrota Police Sgt. Tony Pasquale stated that additional adult suspects were identified during the course of the investigation and that evidence had been referred to other law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution.
A press release issued by the Zumbrota Police Department stated the investigation involved assistance from the Rochester Police Department’s Technology Forensic Unit and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Carolinas Field Office.
According to the Post Bulletin, Rudolph allegedly told investigators in April that he planned to return to duty at an Army installation at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
As of publication, the underlying Minnesota criminal case did not yet appear in Minnesota Court Records Online.
The Salty Soldier contacted Fort Bragg Public Affairs seeking confirmation regarding Rudolph’s rank, assignment, and duty status but had not received a response as of publication.
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