Holly Contracted Janitor Dismissed After Allegations of Predatory Messages with Decoy Posing as Minor

Holly Contracted Janitor Dismissed After Allegations of Predatory Messages with Decoy Posing as Minor

(Oakland County Times, July 20, 2024)

Holly, MI – Holly Police are investigating accusations of predatory messages after a nonprofit group came forward with text messages they say were between the man and a decoy posing as a minor.

Holly Police released a statement, saying:

On Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 12:45 pm, an adult male and female came to the Holly High School and asked to speak with a male janitor who works at the school. The man and woman alleged the employee has been communicating with them in a potential inappropriate and illegal manner. The two individuals advised school staff they belong to a private, non-profit organization that investigates online child predators and were there to inform the school of their investigation and to speak with the employee. School staff determined the man and woman were not law enforcement officers and advised them that school safety and security protocols would not allow them to summon an employee to meet with them.

The couple provided school staff with their identity and left the building. A call was made to the Holly police department, where it was determined that the group had not reported the incident. An officer was immediately sent to the school to investigate. While the officer was interviewing school staff, the couple arrived at Holly PD to report their findings and were asked to return to the high school to speak with the officer on scene.

Based on the report of the allegations, school administration sent the contracted janitorial employee home and a call was made to the company that employs their janitorial staff, advising them of the incident. The 24 year old man has worked at the Holly High School less than six months.

The reporting persons met with the officer and provided information and evidence regarding their investigating and findings. They reported that the male has been communicating with their investigators who were posing as an underage female child. Holly police department investigators are conducting an investigation into the actions of the employee with the full assistance of the non-profit group and Holly Schools administration. Holly officers have discovered the janitorial employee has been terminated by his employing agency and will not be returning to Holly schools in any capacity. Once officers have completed their investigation, it will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Based on the allegations made to school administrative staff, and the active police investigation, Holly Area Schools Superintendent Scott Roper sent the following message to all school families;

July 18, 2024

Dear Holly Area Schools families,

At Holly Area Schools, the safety and security of our students and school community is our number one priority. Today, we received an allegation of inappropriate and illegal conduct by one of our third-party contract employees. We received this information from a group of individuals who attempted to confront the contracted employee.

Upon receiving this information, we immediately began an internal review and contacted local law enforcement consistent with our school policies, protocols and procedures.

At Holly Area Schools, we take any allegations of inappropriate or illegal conduct seriously and investigate them thoroughly. We encourage anyone with information that may impact student safety or security to contact my office directly and/or local law enforcement.

Sincerely,

Scott Roper, Superintendent

Holly Area Schools