A preschool teacher on a Southwest Airlines flight is being credited with helping police after she noticed disturbing text messages on the phone of the man seated in front of her.
According to San Jose police, Michael, 56, was texting in large font when the woman saw wording that suggested the conversation involved the sexual abuse of young children. She discreetly photographed his screen and told airline staff. San Jose sex crimes detective Nick Jourdenais told the Mercury News that once the conversation turned to children, she decided to preserve the evidence.
After the plane landed, a flight attendant alerted police and Michael was arrested at the airport. Investigators say he was texting with Gail, who was babysitting two young children. BuzzFeed reports the messages allegedly included requests for her to abuse the children, and she has also been arrested.
Per the police report, Michael was charged with two counts of attempted child molestation and two counts of solicitation of a sex crime. Gail was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, rape of a child in the first degree and dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Police have called the teacher a hero for speaking up. She has chosen to remain anonymous.
