The Bastrop Independent School District (ISD) has made an arrest for the online solicitation of a juvenile, according to the police.
According to the North Richland Hills Police Department, on December 27, 2023, a 42-year-old man named James Byrd made contact with a person whom he believed to be a 15-year-old girl through the use of the internet chatting platform known as Whisper.
During the course of a combined operation, detectives from the North Richland Hills Police Department, the Fort Worth Police Department, and multiple other agencies collaborated.
Byrd allegedly made contact with the youngster and agreed to meet with her in the Dallas area as a result of the investigation, according to the police. Upon his arrest, he was charged with soliciting a juvenile through the use of the internet.
Byrd was a history teacher at Cedar Creek High School from August 7, 2019, until January 4, 2019, according to Bastrop Independent School District. According to the district, it was during the break that they became aware of Byrd’s arrest, and he was then placed on administrative leave. On January 4th, Byrd submitted his resignation from his post.
In accordance with the established procedure, the BISD informed the State Board for Educator Certification about the individual. Despite the fact that the criminal investigation does not involve Bastrop Independent School District (BISD) or any of our kids and is being conducted by officials in Tarrant County, Bastrop ISD has stated in an email to FOX 7 Austin that it will assist completely with law enforcement whenever it is required to do so.
