PHILADELPHIA — One of the men featured in a viral video celebrating a crowdfunded surrogacy birth is a registered sex offender with a conviction related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a report by Reduxx.
The video, which circulated widely on X over the weekend, showed Logan Riley and Brandon Keith Mitchell introducing their newborn child, drawing attention across social media platforms.
Reduxx now reports that Mitchell is a Tier 1 sex offender in Pennsylvania, stemming from a 2016 arrest in which he was accused of attempting to solicit a 16-year-old boy for sexual activity.
“Brandon Keith Mitchell is a Tier 1 sex offender in the state of Pennsylvania, and was arrested in 2016 after attempting to solicit a 16-year-old boy for sexual abuse,” the outlet stated.
The report cites court records indicating that Mitchell, who was a teacher at the time, exchanged more than 12,000 text messages with the teenager. A police search of his electronic devices reportedly uncovered hundreds of sexually explicit videos of the victim on Mitchell’s laptop.
Mitchell later married Logan Riley, who, according to Reduxx, is currently employed as a second-grade teacher.
The report did not indicate whether either individual faced current legal restrictions involving children or whether authorities were reviewing the circumstances of their surrogacy or custody status.
The couple’s video remains online, though public reaction has intensified following the report.
Former teacher in viral surrogacy video was charged with sexting student in 2016
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — A former high school teacher now identified in a viral surrogacy video was arrested in 2016 for sending explicit messages and photos to a student, court and law enforcement records confirm.
Brandon Keith Mitchell, previously employed as a chemistry teacher at Downingtown West High School, was charged with multiple felonies including possession of child pornography, sexual abuse of children, endangering the welfare of children, and corruption of minors, according to a press release from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office dated February 9, 2016.
Authorities said Mitchell exchanged nude photos and sexually suggestive text messages with a male student he had taught the previous year. The student, a junior at the time, was under the age of 18 during the period of communication, which reportedly involved “multiple occasions” of sexting.
“There are no allegations of physical contact with any student,” Mitchell’s defense attorney Peter Kratsa said at the time.
Mitchell was arrested on February 3, 2016, following an investigation that began the prior year. He resigned from his teaching position on July 1, 2015, after the Downingtown Area School District completed a disciplinary process and suspended him in April 2015 pending a police investigation.
“The Chester County District Attorney’s Office has announced the arrest of Brandon Keith Mitchell,” a district statement read. “He resigned from his teaching position to avoid discharge.”
The student reported the incident during an interview with investigators on April 24, 2015. The affidavit said the digital communications included sexually explicit content but did not indicate any in-person sexual contact had occurred.
Mitchell’s background includes prior work as a teacher in Pennsylvania and England, as well as employment at a Lancaster County pharmaceutical company at the time of his arrest. He also served as an assistant ride supervisor at Dutch Wonderland amusement park and had volunteered as an assistant scoutmaster.
His case drew renewed attention this week after he and his husband, Logan Riley, appeared in a video showcasing their crowdfunded surrogacy journey, which circulated widely online.
Mitchell, now a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania, was 30 years old at the time of the charges.
