Missouri middle school teacher charged with child sex crimes

A teacher at suburban Kansas City’s Park Hill School District is facing multiple charges of attempted child exploitation.

Richard Villigram, who taught at Plaza Middle School, was arrested Tuesday after a sting operation revealed him allegedly attempting to have sex with a minor.

An undercover officer posed as a 15-year-old with whom Villigram started messaging for several days. He asked the “child” for pornographic images and arranged a meeting with them with the intention of engaging in sexual acts.

Officers found messages on Villigram’s phone with another person, in which he told them in sexually graphic terms that he was trying to meet up with someone for sex. He later admitted he was talking about the child in those texts, according to the U.S Attorney’s Office.

Villigram was arrested when he arrived at the meet-up he’d arranged with the minor on Tuesday.

Parents reacted to Fox 4 Kansas City’s post about the teacher with shock.

“My kids are so confused tonight, processing how one of their favorite teachers the last three years could have done something like this!!!” one mother commented.

She said her kids reacted with, “It’s so much to process, I feel sick to my stomach.”

Villigram is facing federal charges of one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography.

He’s being held in federal custody, and his detention hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Park Hill School District gave Fox 4 the following statement:

“We are aware of these charges and we are working with our law enforcement partners to learn more. We’ll be following all applicable laws and policies along the way; this includes taking prompt steps to make sure our priorities of safety and trust are intact. As we know more and can share more, we’ll do so.”