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Former Mississippi Teacher Indicted for Allegedly Using AI to Create Sexually Explicit Videos of Students
A chilling case has unfolded in Mississippi, where a former middle school teacher is facing federal charges for allegedly leveraging artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit videos featuring teenage students. Wilson Jones, 30, stands accused of producing and possessing morphed images constituting child pornography, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi on March 6. The gravity of the allegations has sent shockwaves through the Corinth School District and the wider community, raising serious questions about the potential misuse of AI technology and the safety of students.
Jones, who tendered his resignation from the Corinth School District on November 21, 2024, was previously employed as a teacher at Corinth Middle School. The investigation was triggered by the school district’s internet filtering system, which flagged suspicious activity originating from a teacher’s computer.
“The Corinth School District internet filtering system alerted district administration of inappropriate activity on a teacher computer," the district stated in a released statement. “The District investigated the complaint, took action, and reported the matter, as required, to the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Educator Misconduct. Since this relates to the employment of a former school district employee and is subject to a current law enforcement investigation, the District cannot offer any additional comment at this time. The District has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with any law enforcement request for assistance.”
USA TODAY made attempts to contact both the Corinth School District and Jones’ defense attorney for comment, but no responses were received. This silence underscores the sensitivity and complexity of the ongoing investigation.
The Corinth Police Department became involved in the case after receiving an email from the Mississippi Department of Education on February 26, detailing an incident that had been reported to their office on January 29. This chain of events highlights the importance of reporting mechanisms and inter-agency cooperation in addressing potential threats to student safety.
On February 27, law enforcement officials met with Corinth School District Superintendent Lee Childress to discuss the matter. Subsequently, the FBI served the school district with a subpoena, demanding the production of all evidence, documentation, statements, laptops, videos, and any other materials related to the incident. This comprehensive approach underscores the thoroughness of the investigation and the commitment to uncovering the full extent of the alleged crimes.
The examination of materials provided by the school district revealed a crucial piece of information: On November 19, 2024, the Corinth Middle School principal received a text message from another employee regarding a "Bark Alert" triggered by Jones’ computer. The Bark app, designed to monitor school district computers for illicit content, detected a severe alert classified as "sexual" around 1:17 p.m.
The principal’s subsequent investigation led to the discovery of three videos on Jones’ computer depicting Corinth students, aged between 14 and 16, engaging in what was described as "inappropriate behavior, including kissing and exposing themselves." This discovery provided concrete evidence of the disturbing nature of the alleged activities.
During a meeting with Jones the following morning, the teacher reportedly admitted to using an AI tool to create the videos, but claimed that the videos were "not sexual." He further stated that the images used to create the videos were sourced from social media, and acknowledged that one of the images depicted a local student. This contradictory statement raises serious questions about Jones’ credibility and intentions.
The charging document further revealed that Jones had stored files on his Google Drive, including videos and screenshots containing email usernames and passwords of former middle school students, "without a legitimate reason." This unauthorized access to student information raises concerns about potential identity theft and other forms of exploitation.
Analysis of Jones’ keystrokes around the time of the Bark alert revealed that he had typed several explicit prompts into the AI system. These prompts provide further evidence of the sexually explicit nature of the videos he allegedly created.
Upon reviewing the videos, FBI agents identified eight teenage victims who were known children from the Corinth School District. This identification underscores the devastating impact of the alleged crimes on the students and their families.
The community is reeling from the news, with parents expressing outrage and concern for their children’s safety. “We need to know what’s going on at our schools and with our children and not only our own but anybody else’s children,” said Jasmica Wade, the parent of a student in the district. “That’s what we send them to school to learn, but not to go through this, they shouldn’t have to go through that.”
Jones posted a $20,000 bond on Thursday and was released from custody, according to court records. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
This case underscores the growing concerns about the potential for AI to be misused in harmful ways. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance, robust safety measures, and ongoing education about the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses through the legal system. The focus now is on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future. The Corinth School District, law enforcement, and the community at large must work together to create a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
