Broward school watchman accused of asking kids for sexually explicit videos
POMPANO BEACH — A man who was responsible for keeping students safe at school is accused of soliciting them for sexually explicit videos and sending them pornographic images — and authorities fear there may be more victims.
Alton Johnson, 31, of Lauderhill, has worked as a campus security monitor at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach since March 2017, and is paid a salary of $19,843 to watch over students at the school.
Authorities began investigating Johnson in February, after he asked two minors — a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old — to produce child pornography and send it to him, according to the warrant for Johnson’s arrest.
The warrant does not specify what he asked the kids to do or film. But it details the multiple times between February 2019 and June 2019 that he asked the minors for sexually explicit videos.
In an alleged attempt to seduce the 15-year-old and lure them into producing child pornography, Johnson texted them two videos of a male and a female engaged in sex acts, the report says.
On at least one occasion, Johnson allegedly offered one of the minors money in exchange for the videos, the report says.
On Tuesday, Johnson was booked into the Broward County jail on five criminal charges, including soliciting a minor, transmitting harmful material to minors and being an authority figure engaged in lewd conduct with a student. A judge set his bond at $177,000 for the charges.
Johnson did not answer phone calls and an email request for comment Wednesday.
Because of his proximity to minors through his job, detectives fear there may be more victims.
Nora Rupert, a school board member who represents Blanche Ely High, encouraged parents to talk to their children about the news and make sure they were not harmed. She said all children deserve to feel safe, especially on Broward County public school campuses.
“This is absolutely horrendous and any child victimized needs immediate counseling to start the healing process,” Rupert said. “Please talk to your children and make sure they were not affected.”
Anyone with information about Johnson who could assist investigators should contact Detective Robert Rausch with the Special Victims Unit at 954-321-4234. Those who want to remain anonymous can contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in Broward. Last year, a part-time school monitor for the Broward school district was charged with possessing more than 150 pictures and videos of child pornography.
Antonio Alejandro Berrios, 32, of Weston, was arrested July 17, 2019, after investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Berrios’ case is still pending in Broward County Circuit Court. He posted bond and was released with supervision pending trial. The most recent court filings allowed Berrios access to the internet in his household so that his son can attend school and Berrios can file unemployment claims.