PHOENIX – The principal of Buckeye Union High School was arrested Tuesday after being accused of luring a minor for sexual abuse through an anonymous social media app.
According to court documents, Joe Kinney, 42, sent an undercover FBI agent a message on July 22 using the Whisper app posing as a 12-year-old girl.
In response to a post from the officer complaining about her boredom, Kinney said, “She should get comfortable in her bed and take off her clothes,” the police report states.
As the conversation continued, Kinney explicitly told the agent what sexual acts he intended to perform with her and asked for nude photos, court documents say.
At one point, Kinney said he would “like to rescue” the girl, who was visiting her grandmother in Oregon, according to the police report.
The conversation ended the next day after Kinney told the girl he was at work and she asked him if he had a fun job.
What did the Buckeye Union High School District say about the accused principal?
The district placed Kinney on leave on Tuesday. Assistant Principal Kristin Koke will serve as interim principal.
Buckeye Union High School District said its focus is on its students.
“As this is a personnel matter, we cannot provide further details at this time,” the district said in a statement. “Our focus is on providing an excellent educational experience for our students.”
Kinney is charged with luring minors for sexual exploitation, among other things. His next court date is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m.
