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Conroe ISD head baseball coach accused of soliciting minor for sex
FOX 26 Reporter Matthew Seedorff has more on the investigation and has reaction to the arrest.
CONROE, Texas - A Conroe ISD high school coach is behind bars Wednesday after authorities say he sent ‘explicit' texts and pictures with undercover officers posing as teenagers.
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Deputies with the Harris County Constable Pct. 1 say Joseph Johnson, 30, was arrested Wednesday at Caney Creek High School's parking lot following a five-month-long investigation.
Law enforcement carried out a five-month investigation using undercover agents to speak with Johnson. According to Rosen, the deputies talked with Johnson online identifying themselves as 14 and 16-year-old girls.
During the texts, officials say Johnson sent explicit images and videos of his private parts to the teenagers. The communication between Johnson and the officers (under the guise of teenagers) remained in progress up until his arrest Wednesday.
"He communicated with [undercover agents] over an extended period of time," said Rosen. "He sent some explicit pictures of himself."
School officials tell FOX 26 Johnson started his career as head coach and a history teacher at Caney Creek High School in August 2020. Before that, And according to investigators, "Johnson may have had some form of relationship with former students."
Students and parents we met outside the school Wednesday hadn’t heard about the arrest.
"I heard he’s a great history teacher, but I haven’t heard much about what’s going on," said Brandie Abbie.
Abbie is a sophomore student and a softball player at Caney Creek.
"Dress code is kind of a thing here," said Creek. "I know Coach Johnson was kind of like, oh you look good in this, you look good in that."
"I think we need to do a little more briefing on teachers prior to them being employed," said Bobby Hall, a parent. "I’m actually kind of disturbed by it. I’ve got nothing but girls. It’s kind of disturbing."
In a letter sent home to parents, the school principal said they are working through the processes of putting Johnson on administrative leave effective immediately.
Over the next few days, you will likely see and hear news reports regarding our school. I wanted you to hear directly from me accurate information about what has happened. Joseph Johnson, a history teacher and baseball coach at Caney Creek High School, was arrested today by the Harris County Pct. One Constable’s Office. He has been charged with online solicitation of a minor. Mr. Johnson was hired on August 4, 2020, and we are working through our processes to put him on administrative leave effective immediately.
I want to assure you that Caney Creek High School and Conroe ISD are committed to providing a safe learning environment for your children.
Constable Alan Rosen from Harris County Pct. 1 believes there could be more victims.
"We want to hear from victims," said Rosen. "We want to hear from people who may have encountered him in any of the school environments. We believe very strongly there are more victims that we need to talk to based on his assertions."
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A $250,000 bond has been set for the 30-year-old, currently facing charges for Online Solicitation of a Minor, but could be facing additional charges.
Anyone with any information related to this case or any other relevant information, as well as any other victims of Johnson's, are urged to contact the Harris County Pct. 1 Constable’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at 713-222-4929.