Parents Upset District Didn't Inform Them of Teacher Involved In Trafficking Case

 

ABILENE, TX – Parents with children at Mann Middle School are upset that the Abilene ISD did not notify them of the suspension of Jim Counts. Counts, who is an 8th grade math teacher, was put on administrative leave after being identified as a suspect in a cyber crimes investigation

According to KTXS, police believe Counts was one of the 20 men who allegedly paid to have sex with a Asian woman in her 30’s at an Abilene hotel. The victim told authorities she had been flown to Texas by her “controllers” and was trafficked at least 20 times over a course of six days. Authorities learned about the victim after they found information that claimed an Asian woman was “available in our city.”

Abilene ISD claimed that since the issue was very public already, they didn’t need to provide “additional information” to parents.

Parents of the students told KTXS they were not okay with the district’s decision.

"I would ask him [the superintendent] what he would want if his kid was in this school," said a parent.

"It's wrong. They should notify parents about things like this," said another mom.

"I had no idea this happened at the school," said another dad.

Abilene PD released pictures of the alleged offenders and asked the public’s help with identifying them. As of Wednesday, they had identified 11 of the 15 suspects. The pictures that were released are selfies the suspects were required to send to the "controllers" to "acquire the services of the woman."

All 20 suspects could be charged with Class B prostitution which carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Human trafficking is a major issue in the United States and in Texas. According to the Big Country Human Trafficking Coalition, there are 313,000 victims in Texas, making it second in the nation. 

Any citizen can help identify cases of human trafficking by paying attention to certain red flags.
“If you see a bunch of traffic to a single house or hotel room, call the police. In this case, 20 men visited a single hotel room for over six days. If you see something, say something," said Bryn Stonehouse of Big Country Human Trafficking Coalition.

Shared Hope International has published the following list of warning signs to look out for when identifying possible cases of human trafficking:

  • Physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts
  • Unexplained absences from class
  • Sexualized behavior
  • Overly tired in class
  • Withdrawn, depressed, distracted or checked out
  • Brags about making or having lots of money
  • Less appropriately dressed than before or new expensive clothes, accessories or shoes
  • New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking)
  • Older boyfriend or new friends with a different lifestyle
  • Talks about wild parties or invites other students to attend parties
  • Shows signs of gang affiliation (color colors, notebook doodles of gang symbols, etc.)

To report a tip you can contact the following agencies:

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Comments

Urlik, Thu, 12/05/2019 - 11:46

I don’t see why the school needs to tell parents that a teacher was under investigation but not charged yet for soliciting. Trafficking charges go with the person who was trafficking her. If a teacher was under investigation for trafficking people, I can see them letting parents know that. Under investigation for possible solicitation? I see no reason unless a minor was involved.

The teacher's qualifications as an educator are clearly negated once he pays for sexual services. Right?

In addition, what kind of "Christian nation" would we be, if we didn't steep ourselves in the preoccupation and judgement of the private sexual lives of others, and utilize these cherished qualities as a platform to express our own moral superiority?

"Controllers"? That's a new one to me, but a nice humorous addition to the licenses taken in media in pursuit of the often sensationalized, false narratives about sex work.

Yes his skill set is negated. He believes that enslaving a person for sexual needs is an okay thing. He also believes that paying for sex is acceptable. These are not thought patterns I would want instructed or influenced by someone who teaches our children. They are our future as sad as that may seem we must protect them at all costs.

"He believes that enslaving a person for sexual needs is an okay thing."

Are you saying Muslims, or at least anyone with a Saudi background, should not teach? Welcome to the current year.

In the majority of these prostitution stings (now ''trafficking investigations"), the workers were carrying on their activities and lifestyles on their own volition. I can't find any sources regarding this incident which assuredly concludes that this "Asian woman" was held against her will or coerced, which would indeed be a cause for concern.

The man paid another adult for sex, a crime, though most misdemeanors of this kind don't exactly fit the criteria for an Amber Alert.

We are in America, welcome to the country we live in. We are not a Muslim country, and we are certainly not a country that allows people like this one to keep his job after committing the crime he did. If you don't like it you are free to shut up just like out forefathers righted you when they wrote the bill of rights. Also don't ad lib for people it makes you look dumb, which is probably correct.

Jeff, I work hard at being stupid, so your words today are a lot of sunshine warming my heart and letting me know that my hard work and dedication have truly paid off. I feel accepted and like I fit in here, and that means a lot to me. I would like to say thank you and express my gratitude to you.

Also, I do realize that despite the existence of a mosque that was built at the site where the United States was attacked by agents of a totalitarian ideology, (which some might consider a claim on that territory,) that the US is still not considered a Muslim country. However, given the latitude that our society has granted to minorities who are all but explicitly hostile to the host culture in a persistent way, I do believe that the concerns and traditions of the natives of Abilene should be honored. We see a similar honoring of local mores in the way that the state of Texas has collectively decided to assert itself and the integrity of its traditions by not permitting the step-mother of a young boy to force him to become a kothi/kathoey not too long ago.

Our children are indeed our collective future, Jeff. If there's anything worth fighting for, it's them.

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