An Arizona high school principal has been apprehended for allegedly attempting to lure a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl into engaging in explicit activities. Joseph Kinney, 42, the principal of Buckeye Union High School in Buckeye, Arizona, was reportedly using an anonymous social media application, Whisper, to communicate with the supposed minor, who was in reality an undercover agent.
The investigation into Kinney began in July when he responded to a post from the undercover agent stating, “bored lol what should I do.” Using the username “Macabre Pure,” Kinney suggested the ‘girl’ get comfortable in bed and undress. When the agent, maintaining the guise of a 12-year-old, expressed that the request was strange, Kinney allegedly responded, “I don’t mind your age.”
The conversations escalated, with Kinney reportedly asking the ‘girl’ to send explicit photos. He also expressed a desire to “rescue” her from her grandmother’s home in Oregon, where the agent claimed to be staying, with the intention of performing sexual acts on her.
Federal authorities traced Kinney’s IP address and raided his home in Goodyear, Arizona, on September 3. On the same day, he was apprehended during a traffic stop and subsequently placed on administrative leave. Kinney later confessed to having conversations with several individuals on Whisper who claimed to be underage.
Kinney defended his actions, stating he never truly believed the individuals were minors and assumed they were adults engaging in fantasy chat and role-playing. He recalled one instance where a user claimed to be nine years old, but he assumed she was an adult based on her photo. He expressed regret for his actions, stating he felt “stupid and embarrassed” and insisted he would “never engage in sexual acts with a child.”
Kinney has been charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and is being held on a $60,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 12. If released, he will be required to wear an electronic monitor and will be prohibited from interacting with minors or accessing the internet.
Former FBI agent James Egelston commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of parental awareness of their children’s online activities. He warned that individuals with harmful intentions often seek positions that provide access to children, either through their professional employment or hobbies.