PHOENIX, AZ – Prosecutors have announced they will not pursue charges against Joe Kinney, the former principal of Buckeye Union High School, who was arrested last week on suspicion of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) stated that the decision was based on the lack of a reasonable likelihood of conviction.
Kinney, 42, was arrested after engaging in explicit communication with an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl on the social media app Whisper. While the crime of luring a minor can involve an undercover agent, MCAO noted that in this case, the evidence did not support the claim that Kinney believed he was communicating with a real minor.
“The crime of luring requires proof that the suspect knew or should have known that the person he was communicating with was under 18,” MCAO said in a statement. “There was no actual minor in this case, and based on the available evidence, the state is unable to prove the suspect’s intent to lure a minor.”
Despite the lack of charges, Kinney’s arrest had immediate professional consequences. The Buckeye Union High School District placed him on administrative leave following the arrest, and the district’s governing board approved his termination during a meeting on Monday night.
The case was initially investigated by the FBI before being handed over to the Phoenix Police Department. According to the arrest report, Kinney engaged in explicit conversations with the undercover agent in July. During an interview following his arrest, Kinney admitted to chatting with multiple females who claimed to be underage but maintained that he believed the interactions were part of a role-playing fantasy.
Kinney, who expressed regret during the interview, told officers he never believed the individuals were truly underage and denied being sexually attracted to children.
The investigation involved subpoenas to the social media app Whisper, Cox Communications, and Verizon Wireless to trace Kinney’s communications with the undercover officer.
While Kinney’s criminal case has been closed, the situation has brought renewed attention to the dangers of online interactions and the importance of safeguarding minors from exploitation.
