A Battle Ground High School teacher was arrested on Saturday, April 20, in Albany, Oregon, after being caught up in a citizen-led sting on social media.
Kevin Weeks, 57, remains in Linn County Jail under the suspicion of first-degree online sexual corruption of a child.
An email from Battle Ground High School Principal Charbonneau Gourde sent to parents of students at Battle Ground High School Sunday, April 21, stated the teacher has been placed on administrative leave and will not be at school while the Battle Ground Public Schools District completes an investigation. The district will also cooperate with the law enforcement investigation, the email stated.
The People v. Preds Facebook group shared a video of Weeks being arrested by the Albany Police Department in Oregon on April 20.
A member of the People v. Preds organization from California visited Oregon to catch child predators utilizing social media decoy accounts, said a member of the group, who asked to be kept anonymous.
“I started about three years ago. In like 32 months, I've caught 405 now,” he said. “Basically, I just create online decoy accounts that pose as underage children. People reach out to us. We let them know that we're 13, 14, 15. No set age, just an underage kid. And the conversation continues, and the conversation gets sexual and the individual comes to meet. If law enforcement wants to be involved, they can be involved.”
He added he has caught 20 people in the last nine days in Oregon.
“Kevin reached out to me, basically, Kevin reached out to me at the beginning of this trip,” he said regarding the communication between Weeks and the decoy account.
In the video by People v. Preds showing Weeks’ arrest in Albany, Oregon, by the Albany Police Department, the manager of the decoy account told Weeks to just be honest with the cops and asked why Weeks was there. Weeks replied, while in handcuffs, “To meet Jessica (the decoy account's name).”
He further asked Weeks how old she was and what they talked about. “Fourteen,” Weeks replied about her age in the video.
“Sex,” Weeks replied regarding what he talked about with the decoy account.
The People v. Preds organization can be found on multiple platforms. To learn more, visit linktr.ee/peoplevpreds.
Read the full statement from Gourde below:
“I am writing to share some concerning information about a staff member. Earlier this weekend, we were informed that one of our staff members was arrested in Oregon for online corruption of a child,” Gourde wrote. “Due to the serious nature of this matter, this person was placed on administrative leave and will not be at school while our district completes an investigation. We will also cooperate with the law enforcement investigation. Of course, this person's actions do not in any way align with the values or character of our school or district. We will take all measures necessary to ensure that our students are educated in a safe environment. If you have any concerns, please contact me. While I am limited in the information that I can share, I am ready to listen to any concerns that you wish to discuss.”
