Richfield School Staffer Faces Felonies for Alleged Sex Acts With Student

May 16

A 23-year-old campus supervisor at a Richfield middle school has been charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Prosecutors say the staff member, Joshua James Moton, allegedly engaged in repeated sexual acts with a 14-year-old student over a six-week span.

According to a criminal complaint, Moton is accused of using his position of authority to initiate and carry out multiple sexual encounters with the victim, who was a student at the school where he worked.

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Richfield Police were called to the school on Tuesday, May 13, after a student alerted an administrator to concerning messages and behavior involving Moton and the victim. The reporting student told officers they had seen emails on the victim’s school laptop in which Moton said he planned to take the victim to the school’s pool area, where there are no surveillance cameras.

THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

When officers spoke with the victim, she said Moton first kissed her in the school basement about a month earlier, after escorting her from class. She said she “froze” during the encounter. She went on to disclose that Moton had repeatedly taken her from class and brought her to an area near the school gym where he had the victim perform sexual acts. On at least one occasion, Moton performed a sexual act on the victim. The most recent incident occurred the day before the report was made, according to the court documents.

The victim told officers that Moton contacted her outside of school on social media. Police collected a phone used for those conversations and said the forensic investigation into messages, social media accounts and email communications is ongoing.

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Moton was taken into custody the same day and later admitted during a recorded interview that he had sexual contact with the victim, the documents say. He initially denied the behavior, then stated that bodily fluids might be found on the victim’s clothing. He ultimately acknowledged that the contact took place in the school’s weight room and happened at least twice, agreeing it was illegal due to her age and because of his authority as a staff member.

PREVIOUSLY: Richfield School Staffer Arrested in Sexual Conduct Investigation

Prosecutors have charged Moton with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration of a minor by someone more than 36 months older and in a position of authority, as well as second-degree criminal sexual conduct for sexual contact under similar circumstances. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to 30 years in prison. The minimum presumptive sentence is 12 years.

Richfield Superintendent Steve Unowsky issued a statement to families Tuesday evening, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations. He confirmed that the staff member was placed on administrative leave in accordance with district policy and that law enforcement was notified right away.

“The safety, well-being, and trust of our students, staff and families are our highest priorities,” Unowsky wrote. He added that counselors and mental health staff are available for students who may need support.

Moton remains jailed and was set to make an initial court appearance Friday morning.

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