CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The now former Jefferson High School English teacher arrested recently on charges out of Georgia is the subject of numerous felony charges in Jefferson County related to the victimization of a Georgia minor.
MetroNews obtained the criminal complaint from Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey.
In that complaint, dated Jan. 31, Edgar Hopkins Conn, 37, is alleged to have participated in the “distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct (possession of child pornography); Soliciting, etc. a minor via computer; soliciting a minor and traveling to engage the minor in prohibited sexual activity; Distribution and display to minor of obscene material.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joseph Forman reports that on Jan. 30 he received information from the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia indicating that a juvenile victim in that county had been coerced into sending sexually explicit photos from a man living in Jefferson County.
The 17-year-old teenage boy victim believed he was messaging with a woman named “Megan” from West Virginia.
The Georgia detective alleged “Megan” was in fact Conn, who had used his cell phone number to message and call the victim. There were similarities in the fake Megan and the real Conn with regard to their profession and interests.
Conn allegedly sent nude and explicit pictures of an adult female to the victim and requested the victim send nude and sexually explicit pictures of himself.
Forman said during an interview, Conn admitted to knowing the victim was 17-years-old and that he requested the photos. The sergeant says the suspect told him he located nude photos of a woman online and sent those to the victim. He further stated the messages began around Nov, 23 of last year and continued until the victim stopped messaging him in January.
Forman obtained a search warrant for Conn’s cell phone, which was sent to a forensic examiner.
That investigation revealed “numerous” pictures on the phone that were sent from the victim. “More than 55 but less than 600,” according to the report.
Conn is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail without bond.
Conn now faces the following charges:
Distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, a felony. If convicted, Conn could face up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,000.
If convicted of violating this charge with the number of images being more than 50 and less than 600, Conn faces 2 to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Soliciting, etc. a minor via computer; soliciting a minor and traveling to engage the minor in prohibited sexual activity
If convicted of the computer solicitation, a felony, Conn faces 2 to 10 years and/or a fine of $5,000.
If convicted of the charge of traveling to engage the minor in prohibited sexual activity, a felony, Conn faces 5 to 30 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
Distribution and display to a minor of obscene material
If convicted of this felony charge, Conn faces up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
Following Conn’s arrest in January, a notice from Jefferson County Schools says the school system relieved the suspect immediately from his duties when it became aware of the allegations against him.
“JCS did so acting swiftly and decisively on the day the allegations arose, including cooperating with law enforcement who was involved from the onset,” according to a news release from the school district.
“As required by law, JCS immediately notified the West Virginia Department of Education for the purpose of licensure review and nationwide notification purposes to prevent the former employee from being able to teach.”