Video alleges plans between former school employee and “underage boy”
A video showing a former Fulton School District employee is catching the attention of parents and law enforcement officers.
The video shows the former employee admitting to meeting up with a man he thought was an underage boy.
The video and interaction was filmed by Jacob with US Predator Hunters, an organization aimed at “bringing online predators out of the shadows” and exposing the interaction when they get caught.
Jacob, who didn’t want to release his last name, told ABC 17 News that he posed as a 14 year-old boy on an app, and that four days later, the former employee agreed to meet with Jacob at a gas station in Columbia.
To see the full video with the former school district employee, click this video link.
The Fulton Police Department, Columbia Police Department and Boone County Cyber Crimes Unit all investigated the incident. Chief Steve Myers with Fulton Police told ABC 17 News no criminal charges were being pursued right now. Myers went as far to say he believed the video was staged.
When ABC 17 News asked Jacob what he thought about that statement, he said, “It’s definitely not, he is not with us in any way, shape or form,” Jacob said. “It’s definitely not staged, that really did happen.”
ABC 17 News asked why law enforcement wasn’t involved, and Jacob said he didn’t want them to interfere with the process of his organization and filming the true interaction when the suspect was caught.
“If I contact them after I made the video but before I posted it online, they (police) will come and take our camera and will take my cell and take everything I have. I’m not able to catch anybody else then,” Jacob said.
So far the US Predator Hunters organization, based in Columbia, has caught four people; three of the incidents are posted online.
Fulton School District response
A letter was sent out to Bush Elementary School parents after reports of the video surfaced:
“Bush Parents,
The Fulton Public School District understands that a video is circulating, alleging inappropriate solicitation by an adult male. Fulton Public Schools completes Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri Division of Family Services background checks on ALL employees hired. The individual in the video, left employment prior to any school district knowledge of the allegations stated in the private video. To our knowledge at the time of this message, the school district has not been informed by any student, parent, or law enforcement official, of ANY inappropriate conduct by the alleged individual.
As a parent or patron, if you have knowledge of inappropriate conduct by this individual or any other individual, call law enforcement immediately.
If you have further questions, please call Mrs. Engle at Bush on Monday morning.
– Bush Elementary Office”
The Superintendent of Fulton Public Schools. Jacque Cowherd, emailed ABC 17 News and said that since the email was sent out to parents on May 20, “parents or law enforcement have come forward with any information implicating any current or past employee.”
ABC 17 News will continue to follow this story.
