Texas school superintendent accused of attempting to have sex with underage girl during undercover sting operation
A Harris County agent reported that a North Texas school superintendent was arrested in a raid on people seeking to have sex with minors on Thursday.
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen posted a video message on his Facebook page shortly before 4 p.m. announcing the undercover operation and identifying Itasca Superintendent Michael Keith Stevens, 47, as one of seven men arrested earlier in the day.
Rosen said Stevens sent lewd photos to undercover investigators who were posing as teenage boys and asked for videos and nude images in return. The agent said Stevens discussed taking a trip to Houston to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old minor for sex.
The agent said some of the photos of Stevens appeared to have been taken in his Hill County office.
While talking about Stevens in the video, the officer showed several photographs of a man being held outside Itasca High School, which is adjacent to the district’s administration building. “Normally, I would not show mug shots of these defendants, but we are trying to determine if these individuals have solicited other children,” Rosen said.
Rosen said the seven men arrested Thursday are being charged with online solicitation of a minor. It is not yet clear whether Stevens has obtained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
NBC 5 contacted Itasca ISD Thursday afternoon, who confirmed that a Harris County Sheriff’s Department detective told them the superintendent had been arrested and that the board would soon address the matter.
An online posting showed that the board scheduled a special meeting for Monday, June 5, at 7 a.m., before the next scheduled meeting on June 8. “Until further facts are confirmed, no more information can be shared,” the district said.
According to a posting on the Itasca ISD website, Stevens was named superintendent in 2022 and just completed his first full year at the helm of the district. Prior to moving to Hill County, Stevens worked in several North Texas school districts as an administrator and teacher/coach, including in Elektra, Vernon, Palacios and Mesquite school districts.
Mesquite ISD confirmed to NBC 5 that Stevens worked in the district from 2000 to 2006, most recently at Rutherford Elementary. The district said there was nothing to indicate Stevens left the district on anything other than good terms.
“Stevens has been around children his entire working life. He has been a coach, principal and assistant principal in several North Texas cities,” Rosen said. “He is married and has no children.”
Rosen urged parents to pay close attention to the online activities their children participate in.
“You should make it a priority to know what your children are doing online. In this covert operation, you can see that there are dangerous predators stalking our children and they can cause great harm,” Rosen. Predators like the ones we arrested in this sting should scare everyone.”
Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information should call the Harris County Precinct 1 Sheriff’s Office at 713-755-7571.