A former Ennis High School teacher was sentenced Tuesday to five concurrent five-year prison terms for asking as many as 20 current and former students for digital images of their genitals.
Joshua Jaggears pleaded guilty to charges of online solicitation of a minor; improper relationship between educator and student; and sexual performance of a child. He was sentenced Tuesday in Ellis County.
Jaggears, 28, taught Agriculture Science at the high school. He was arrested in September, 2011 and charged with soliciting minors. A longtime friend who traveled with Jaggears on agricultural events with the Future Farmers of America learned of the solicitation and told the school district.
His own son was one of the accusers.
Jaggears, who lived in Burleson, taught at the high school for five years. Ellis County District Attorney Patrick Wilson said some students did comply with the teacher s request, but there was no evidence that any physical sexual activity occurred.
This brings to close a difficult episode for the students, parents, teachers and administrators of the Ennis Independent School District, Wilson wrote in a prepared statement. When multiple public entities are involved in a criminal matter, as with this case, cooperation and communication are key to a successful outcome.
