A Texas principal wrote humiliating messages to staff and parents disowning her teacher husband hours after he was busted for child porn — including some taken on school property.
Taylor High School principal Melinda Stone sent two letters Monday, the same day her husband, James — a teacher at the same Katy school — was arrested on 10 counts of child porn, according to Covering Katy News.
The 36-year-old husband allegedly admitted to producing some of the thousands of images found at their home — including some taken on beaches, swimming pools and even their school, Fox 26 reported.
James Stone, 53, was taken into custody for possessing thousands of images involving minors. Constable Precinct 3In one email, the principal told staff she was cutting all ties with him following his “disgraceful” acts, according to copies of the messages shared by Covering Katy News.
“I am sure that many of you are aware of the incident involving my husband, James Stone. James was arrested this morning for possession of pornographic materials,” she wrote.
“His arrest and involvement in this criminal activity was unbeknownst to me or those closest to him.
“My family and I are deeply disappointed in his actions and thus we do not have any plans to be involved in James’ criminal proceedings as he navigates the next steps,” she continued.
“It is also important for me to confirm with you that I, nor any other family member, is implicated in James’ criminal activity.”
His wife, Melinda, who is the principal of Taylor High School, has written an email to the community following her husband’s arrest. @MStoneTHS/XThe principal said that she could not share further info “because the incident is still being investigated.”
“But know that the District and I take this incident very seriously and are fully cooperating with law enforcement,” she added.
She also wrote to students’ families, saying that she believed it was “important for our parents to be aware of the information.”
“I apologize for any disruption this disgraceful incident may have caused,” she wrote.
Police claimed that the images were distributed on the dark web and said Stone admitted to producing them himself, according to Fox 26.
Stone teaches at Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. Google St View
In a separate email addressed to parents, Melinda vowed to continue serving the school’s students. @MStoneTHS/XOne junior student at the school, Savannah Lacks, said she’s rethinking her interactions with the disgraced teacher.
“I had him as a study hall teacher,” she told ABC13. “It was really weird. He would always tell me to come over to the desk.”
Another student, Anton Freese, told the outlet, “I didn’t personally know him, so I was just like, scary for our community, especially Tompkins. But I mean, it’s good that they finally got revealed.”
“His arrest and involvement in this criminal activity was unbeknownst to me or those closest to him,” Stone’s wife wrote. @MStoneTHS/XThe school has since told parents that Stone, who has been away from campus for the past week, will not return.
He is in custody at the Fort Bend County Jail, Click2Houston report. The investigation is ongoing.
Stone is set to make his first court appearance Tuesday.
