LYNN HAVEN — A former Mowat Middle School teacher was arrested Wednesday after being accused of sending a photo of his genitals to a 15-year-old girl.
Joseph Lamar Johnson, 24, was employed as a social studies teacher at the school when he allegedly sent the photo to his former student on Nov. 2.
Johnson sent the photo through an application called Snapchat, a social media photo sharing service that bills itself as a way to send messages you want to “self-destruct” after receipt. Users set a time limit of 1-10 seconds before the messages are deleted.
That was enough time for several other people besides the girl to see Johnson’s photo, according to a Bay County Sheriff’s Office affidavit. It was unclear who reported the image to authorities. Johnson later admitted to sending the photograph, according to BCSO, and was charged with distributing obscene material to a minor.
He appeared in court Thursday and entered a written plea of not guilty, and asked for a jury trial.
Johnson began teaching at Mowat Middle School in August 2012, according to Bay County Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt. Johnson resigned Nov. 8 after BCSO notified the school district of the allegations against him. Until then, Johnson had no reported infractions or complaints against him.
“I’m shocked about what he’s accused of, but you know it’s very disconcerting to have to deal with these kinds of things, and I don’t have any kind of tolerance for people sending any kind of photos like this to students,” Husfelt said. “It’s totally unacceptable, I don’t care what world you live in.”
Husfelt said arrests of teachers always are troubling, but are isolated incidents.
“You have to remember we have about 4,000 employees and 1,800 teachers. It’s a miniscule number that do this, and it’s very wrong, but it’s nowhere near the reflection of the kind of teachers we have overall,” he said.
Investigators have found no evidence that Johnson had obscene contact with other juveniles.
“There is no indication at this time of any other inappropriate relationships, but we will certainly investigate any allegations that are brought forth,” said BCSO Maj. Tommy Ford.
Johnson did not answer phone calls Thursday.
An earlier version of this story is posted below:
LYNN HAVEN — A Mowat Middle School teacher has been arrested for distributing obscene material to a minor, according to Bay County Sheriff's Office.
The victim, a former student of 24-year-old Joseph Lamar Johnson, reported to BCSO that in early November Johnson sent her an inappropriate photograph through an application called Snapchat, a social media photo sharing service that bills itself as a way to send messages you want to "self-destruct" upon receipt. The photograph was witnessed by another student, officials said in a news release.
"Johnson admitted to sending the photograph," the news release stated.
Johnson was charged with distribution of obscene material to a minor, a third-degree felony.