Custodian Arrested, Accused Of Sexting 13-Year-Old
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A custodian at an elementary and middle school in Jefferson County has been arrested for allegedly sexting children at the school.
Jacob David Deal has been arrested on suspicion of internet sexual exploitation of a child. Deal, 21, has been suspended from Jeffco Schools.
Deal was a custodian at Dutch Creek Elementary and Ken Caryl Middle Schools. He allegedly began communicating by leaving hand written messages to two sixth grade female students at Dutch Creek Elementary in the late spring.
The notes were left in their desks with messages like "Hey beautiful" and "Call me."
Authorities say the messages complimented the girls' looks. The girls reported the messages to school officials but it was unknown who left them at the time.
Detectives are investigating whether there could be more victims involved.
"We don't know how widespread this is. So we're certainly asking parents to talk to their girls who go to either Dutch Creek or Ken Caryl and see if there's something they haven't come forward with yet," Mark Techmeyer with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office told CBS4.
When the girls entered middle school, the contact escalated.
"One of the girls reports on Aug. 27 that she exchanged text messages with someone and it turned out to be sexting where the male party was sending nude photographs of himself to this girl," said Techmeyer.
The 13-year-old girl reported the sexting incident to school authorities which resulted in Deal's arrest.
"This is not a case where a parent was negligent watching what their child is doing," Techmeyer said, "but it is a great lesson for us again to make sure we're watching what are kids are doing on social media."
Investigators say Deal got the teen's phone number by finding her on Snapchat and Instagram.
Deal is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Sept. 13. He remains in custody on $25,000 bond.
