Man arrested in solicitation of minor case
Police say area school board member sent explicit photos
A Redwater, Texas, Independent School District board member has been arrested on a charge of online solicitation of a minor after allegedly sending photos to a Hamilton, Texas, police officer who’d been posing as a 15-year-old girl.
Bryan Clark Spruill, 59, of Maud, Texas, was arrested Monday by the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant out of Hamilton County, Texas, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Since 2017, Hamilton County Sheriff Justin Caraway has been conducting an online child exploitation investigation by posing as a 15-year-old girl on the SKOUT smartphone app.
Spruill allegedly sent sexually explicit photos to the person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.
According to the affidavit, the offense happened Saturday, and the arrest occurred Monday.
Spruill is a Redwater ISD school board member, according to the district’s website.
Spruill has practiced as a physician’s assistant in orthopedics for 22 years and has been employed by Collom and Carney for 22 years, according to the Redwater ISD website.
Redwater ISD Superintendent Kelly Burns issued the following statement Tuesday:
“Redwater ISD was informed that Trustee Bryan Spruill was arrested today by the Bowie County Sheriff’s office on a warrant from Hamilton County, Texas for online solicitation of a minor,” he wrote in an email. “Because this incident does not appear to be related to district business, students or employees, the district has limited information regarding the matter; however, the district and board takes seriously all allegations of this nature. The board will be evaluating this matter in an upcoming meeting, and will cooperate with any law enforcement investigation.”
Hamilton County is in Central Texas.