Joplin Schools tech employee charged in pornography... - KOAM TV 7

Updated February 19, 2013 at 5:50 PM CST:  A Joplin school employee charged in a pornography case appeared in court today for the first time.

Ronny Justin Myers, an employee with the school district's technology department, is charged in federal court with sending obscene material over the Internet to a minor.

Authorities say he tried to communicate with a 14-year-old girl from Pittsburg via private Facebook messaging.

Investigators say after police took over the girl's Facebook Myers sent four obscene images to the minor.

They say he made plans to meet the girl at Joplin's Northpark Mall last Friday, where officers arrested Myers.

Myers is scheduled to be back in court on Thursday.

Updated February 15, 2013 at 5:50 PM CST:  A developing story tonight - a Joplin Schools employee is arrested today in a pornography case.

Ronny Justin Myers, 35, an employee in the school district's technology department, is charged in federal court with sending obscene material over the Internet to a minor.

Authorities say he tried to communicate with a 14-year-old girl from Pittsburg via private Facebook messaging.

Law enforcement began communicating with Myers over the child's Facebook page.

According to the affidavit Myers sent four obscene images to the minor on Monday and made plans to meet at the Joplin mall during his lunch break on Friday.

Law enforcement arrested Myers at the mall after a brief chase.

Joplin Schools Superintendent C.J. Huff says Myers worked out of a school district office as a network tech and did not have any direct interaction with kids in the school.

Dr. Huff says the school district is working with the police department to help with the investigation.

"Our responsibility right now is to the answer the police department," says Dr. Huff.  "Our job is to be responsible and cooperate fully with the police department and make sure that they have all the equipment and access to the network and servers and things of that nature to make sure they get all the evidence they need so the due process that needs to take place can take place."

Authorities are investigating and we'll have more information as it becomes available.

Myers first court appearance is set for Tuesday.

Posted February 15, 2013 at 4:25 PM CST - Statement from the Joplin School District:

An important message from Joplin School:

At 11:30 am this morning, we were contacted by the Joplin Police Department with some disturbing news. We wanted you to hear this news directly from us.

(Ronny) Justin Myers, an employee in our technology department, was arrested on a Federal Warrant that stemmed from an investigation by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force. The warrant was for furnishing obscene material to a minor less than 16. The minor was not a student of Joplin Schools and the arrest was made off school property. The individual remains in federal custody.

The investigation is ongoing and Joplin Schools is cooperating fully with law enforcement. They are working closely with us to investigate this matter, and we will share more information with you as it becomes available.

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