Katy ISD, located in the Houston metro area, has been stunned by the arrest of a local high school teacher on ten counts of possession of child pornography, prompting widespread concern throughout the community.
James Paul Stone, a social studies teacher at Tompkins High School, was apprehended on Monday and subsequently booked into the Fort Bend County Jail, according to a media release posted on the Montgomery County Constable’s Office (MCCO) Facebook page.
Stone’s arrest follows an investigation by the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office that uncovered thousands of images of child pornography at his residence. Stone allegedly confessed to producing several of the images himself. The MCCO was involved in the investigation as part of a regional task force on crimes against children, per Covering Katy News.
Some photographs recovered by investigators were taken on school premises, as well as at nearby beaches and swimming pools in the Katy area, but those images were not pornographic, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.
Tompkins High School issued a statement to parents assuring them that Stone had not been on campus since the previous week and would not be returning. However, due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the school refrained from providing further details, instead emphasizing the district’s purportedly steadfast commitment to cooperating fully with law enforcement and ensuring the safety and well-being of students.
Stone’s wife, Melinda, is the principal at Katy ISD’s Taylor High School. She addressed the staff at the campus, expressing her profound shock and disappointment at her husband’s actions, according to Texas Scorecard.
James Stone’s attorney requested a $30,000 bond for his client, citing his clean record, lack of employment, health issues, and desire for contact with his teenage children, according to a report from Click2Houston.
However, the prosecutor assigned to the case advocated for a $900,000 bond due to concerns about Stone’s interactions with minors and the severity of the charges. The judge agreed with the prosecutor, ordering the higher bail amount, along with some conditions for release.
As part of his bail conditions, Stone is prohibited from contacting any children under 18, including his own. He must stay at least 1,000 feet away from parks, schools, and community swimming pools and cannot access the internet without authorization. He must also agree to periodic announced device checks, surrender his travel documents, and consent to satellite monitoring.
Authorities believe there may be multiple victims associated with this case, according to the criminal investigations division of the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office. They are urging anyone with information relevant to this case to contact lead Det. Ashley Walker via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 281-364-4211.
As covered extensively by DX, the past year has seen numerous sexual misconduct scandals involving public school teachers and staffers, including some in Dallas ISD. Such accusations have led to calls for greater transparency in state authorities’ handling of such reports, as well as improved background checks during hiring.