A first-year Norman middle school teacher is under arrest after police say he used a Craigslist ad to try to arrange sex with a 9-year-old boy.
Reports say Joseph Leon Love, 25, was a student teacher and an intern with Norman Public Schools last school year, and he had been hired as a first-yearlanguage arts teacher for the coming school year at Longfellow Middle School. After Love's arrest, he submitted his resignation to the school boardbefore the district could formally recommend his termination.
As for the allegations against him, El Reno police say Love was arrested while attempting to meet a child for sex.
Investigators say the man placed an ad on Craigslist which read,"Any dads like to perv over their young sons, let�s talk. I want to talk to any real dads out there who have sons and like to think pervy thoughtsabout them. Let�s have some hot chat."
An undercover officer in Canadian County responded to the ad, claiming to be the father of a 9-year-old boy. Investigators say Love and the undercoverofficer continued to chat for a couple of months, when Love allegedly began to request a meeting with the "father" and his child. During the conversations,investigators say, it was clear that the man wanted to have sex with the child. They say he even mentioned bringing marijuana and wine coolers to tryto relax the boy and "loosen him up" prior to sexually assaulting him.
The undercover officer arranged a meeting with Love at an El Reno apartment complex earlier this week. When the suspect arrived, he spoke briefly withthe undercover officer before other law enforcement officers swooped in and facilitated the arrest. Police say Love had in his possession child pornography,marijuana, and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest.
He was arrested and booked into the Canadian County Jail on Monday. He was released two days later after posting $60,500 bond.
Love is charged in Canadian County District Court with attempted lewd acts to a child under 16, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possessionof drug paraphernalia, and possession of child pornography.
Typically, lewd or indecent acts or proposals to a child under 16 carries a penalty of 3 to 20 years in prison. When the child involved is under the ageof 12, the act is punishable by 25 years to life.
Oklahoma law prevents using the lack of an actual minor as a defense in cases stemming from an arrest by an undercover officer purporting to be a minor.In 21 O.S. � 1123, it is against the law to make lewd proposalsto a child under 16 "or other individual the person believes to be a child under sixteen (16) years of age."
This case could prove interesting, as the defendant is not accused of making lewd proposals to someone he believed to be under the age of 16, but of makinglewd proposals to an adult about someone he believed to be under the age of 16. Regardless, the consequences this former teacher faces are likely tobe severe.
