LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — A 20-year-old man, who was a guest presenter at a Lee’s Summit middle school gym class, has been charged by Jackson County prosecutors with sexual misconduct involving a child under the age of 15 years of age.
Police say the investigation began on Monday, April 15, when female students told their counselor they’d been receiving inappropriate texts from Garret Winchel.
According to Lee’s Summit police, Winchel was involved with “inappropriate text messages” with girls, ages 12 to 14 years old, after making a presentation at a gym class on physical fitness at Summit Lakes Middle School.
“Throughout these presentations, the volunteer presenters are supervised by teachers and are not allowed to be alone with students at any time,” police said.
Winchel had been at the middle school on two occasions between March and April.
According to court documents, at least one 13-year-old student had contact with Winchel on the social networking site Instagram. The teen girl said Winchel posted a comment with his phone number asking people to “text their ‘TBH’ [To Be Honest] rating of him.”
The girl texted Winchel, documents show, and they began texting back and forth.
The girl stated Winchel sent “inappropriate texts, including a request that she send topless photos of herself,” court documents said.
Court documents showed he also made requests for nude photos to a 12-year-old girl.
Other girls at the school reported similar text message conversations, including another girl,14, that stated Winchel had requested several times for “a pic of my boobs,” court documents showed.
Winchel had bond set at $50,000. He has since posted bond and has been released from the Lee’s Summit detention center.
The school district said Winchel is one of several groups that regularly present fitness and healthy lifestyle information to students.
Continuing coverage tonight on FOX 4 News.
