School board member asked to resign after allegedly stealing wife’s ex-husband’s identity to solicit women for sex on Tinder

An Illinois school board member was asked to resign Monday after allegations he stole someone’s identity to solicit sex on a dating app.

Jason Farrell of the Moline-Coal Valley School Board was asked to step down a day after a YouTube video was posted by Farrell’s wife’s ex-husband, Matt Harris, presenting evidence and accusing Farrell of using Harris’ identity on the dating app Tinder.

The demand for Farrell’s resignation was made by School Board President Andrew Waeyaert, who cited concerns over the erosion of public trust in Farrell’s ability to serve the community effectively. 

“The Moline-Coal Valley School District is a leader in educational excellence in the region,” Waeyaert said, according to News 8. “We take this role very seriously, including holding ourselves accountable. The content provided by Mr. Farrell’s wife’s ex-husband is truly disturbing, not only to the Board but to the larger community as well and does not represent the Board of Education’s values or high standards. 

“The allegation and a corroborating video, while Mr. Farrell has not to my knowledge been charged with a crime, are enough to erode the public’s trust in his ability to make decisions that are in the best interests of the students, staff and community he is supposed to represent. 

“That is why on Monday, April 1, 2024, I officially, as Board President, asked Jason Farrell to resign his position as a School Board Member on the Moline-Coal Valley Board of Education.” 

Farrell stands accused of creating a fake Tinder profile impersonating Harris, a former military member. The profile allegedly used Harris’ real name and pictures to engage with women on the dating app. 

The situation escalated when one of the women, identified as Heather, contacted Harris’ fiancé. 

“I have photo proof,” Heather wrote, according to the video. “I didn’t want to send this, but I know I’d want to know myself if my fiancé was on Tinder. I’ll send the pictures.”  

Harris and his fiancé prompted a confrontation asking Heather to go on a date with the person behind the fake account. 

Harris and his fiancé reportedly waited outside the restaurant and confronted Farrell after Heather informed them she was too uncomfortable to continue. 

In response to the allegations, Farrell maintained his innocence and expressed his intention to retain his position on the school board. 

“I have no intentions of resigning from my school board position,” Farrell said, according to News 8. “The allegations made against me are false. I have not been charged with any crimes but, instead, tried solely through social media. 

“My wife and I, with the advice of legal counsel, will explore all of the options we have to respond accordingly to such heinous accusations.”  

Harris refutes Farrell’s denial and characterization of slander. 

“Clearly, I did not stage this and the fact that he’s telling me that I’m slandering him is slander towards me,” Harris adds in the video. “The man created a fake Tinder account, he was soliciting women for sex, meeting them as me, trying to convince them he was me despite the fact that he looks nothing like me. 

“At this point I just hope that he gets to face some pretty serious criminal charges because I genuinely think he deserves that.”