Avella coach accused of sex chats with minor
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
By Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The coach of the boys' basketball team at Avella Junior-Senior High School was arrested Monday on charges including unlawful contact with a minor.
Joe Johnson, 33, who also was a substitute teacher in the Washington County district, was taken into custody about noon at the Avella Elementary Center.
Police in Barrett, Monroe County, have been investigating Mr. Johnson since August.
Mr. Johnson, of Hickory, "had several online conversations which were sexually explicit in nature, one of which involved Johnson sending the purported 14-year-old child explicit photographs of himself," Barrett police said in a news release.
In addition to unlawful contact with a minor, he also was charged with corruption of minors and indecent exposure.
Superintendent Wayde Killmeyer said Mr. Johnson is no longer employed with the school district.
Mr. Johnson had worked in the district for at least five years, he said. "This was a shock to all of us. He was very well-liked in the district."
In a letter to parents, Mr. Killmeyer said police had assured him that no Avella students were involved in Mr. Johnson's alleged activities. He added that the incidents did not involve school computers and took place outside of school hours.
Mr. Killmeyer also expressed regret to parents that Mr. Johnson's arrest occurred on school grounds during the school day.
He said he was unaware of the investigation until police notified him about 10 minutes prior to the arrest. He then escorted Mr. Johnson out of a classroom at the Avella Elementary Center, and the arrest took place out of the view of students.
At the time he was hired, Mr. Johnson had the necessary credentials and clearances, Mr. Killmeyer said.
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