An assistant band director with Union Public Schools has been arrested by U.S. Marshals on child sexual exploitation and child pornography charges.
Investigators say that James Wilson, 31, contacted a 12-year-old Canadian girl via Kik and began an online sexual relationship with the girl. According to reports, Wilson purported to be a 15-year-old boy named "Steven" who found the girl's Kik username from his sister's Instagram account.
"Steven" and the girl conversed via Kik for a couple of weeks, beginning in October 2014, before Wilson allegedly began asking the girl to send nude photos of herself to him. The girl sent sexually explicit photos to Wilson, and she told investigators that he would send her unsolicited nude photos and videos of himself.
The communication and exchange of sexual images continued until recently, when the girl's mother notified Royal Canadian Mounted Police that she found sexually explicit messages on her daughter's iPod. Canadian authorities then tracked the Kik username and IP address to Wilson at his Tulsa home and a nearby restaurant.
United States authorities then executed a search warrant at Wilson's home after he left to go to Union Public Schools Sixth and Seventh Grade Center. While at the home, investigators allegedly found and seized a computer and electronic storage devices and a hard drive containing at least 235 images of child pornography.
After his arrest, Wilson allegedly admitted to using Kik to contact a child under 16 and exchange sexually explicit images, but he denied ownership of the hard drive containing child pornography.
Upon learning of his arraignment in federal court, Union Public Schools suspended the assistant band instructor. He resigned the following day. Union Public School officials released the following statement regarding the allegations and arrest:
"Union Public Schools has suspended assistant band instructor James Wilson after learning of his arrest and arraignment in federal court today on child pornography charges. Wilson was hired by the district in August of 2012. The district will continue to cooperate with law enforcement authorities as they conduct their investigation."
Wilson is held in the custody of U.S. Marshals on complaints of attempting to sexually exploit children, transferring obscene material to a minor and possessing child pornography.
Image Credit: U.S. Marshals Service
