A high school teacher in Texas has been arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor.
The Richardson Police Department announced in a press release that Michael Ralph Fouse was arrested without incident at his home on Friday, August 28. After a search warrant was executed at his home, he was taken into custody and charged with the third-degree felony.
An investigation was launched into Fouse, 41, on August 20 after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
“Detectives are working closely with Richardson ISD to gather additional information and further their investigation,” the police department said in the news release.
Despite confirming his arrest, the police department did not share additional details of the allegations made against him.
It’s not currently clear whether Fouse has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following his arrest.
Shortly after his arrest, the Richardson Independent School District said that Fouse had been immediately placed on administrative leave.
“The district will continue to cooperate fully with the Richardson Police Department as it conducts its criminal investigation,” the district said in a statement obtained by CBS News. “RISD will take all appropriate and necessary action based on the findings of these investigations.
The school district went on to say that it could not share much more information about the case due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
“Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation and a personnel matter, we are limited in the information we can share at this time,” the statement continued. “Our commitment remains clear: We will take every appropriate step to protect the safety and well-being of our students.”
Police have asked that anyone with information about the case contact Richardson police at (972) 744-4893. The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
Solicitation of a minor involves the use of electronic communication to request or solicit a minor to engage in sexual contact or intercourse, according to the Collin County Law Group. The offense often included defendants sending sexually explicit material to the victims in an attempt to arouse or gratify sexual desire.
Those found guilty of online solicitation of a minor in Texas can face a large range of prison time depending on the severity of their crime. Those convicted of the charge can be sentenced to serve anywhere between two to 20 years behind bars.
Parents, teachers and guardians interested in learning more about protecting children from exploitation can find useful tools and information at Know2Protect.
