Former Lafayette County school janitor sentenced for sex crimes involving students
A former Lafayette County C-1 School District janitor was sentenced on Monday for several child sex crimes that were connected to several students in the district.
James Looney was sentenced in Lafayette County Court to five years in prison for possession of child pornography, sexual contact with a student, tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution, and first- and second-degree sexual misconduct, according to a Lafayette County Court document.
A school resource officer with the Lafayette County C-1 School District in Higginsville received a report from a student on March 4, 2025, in which the student said they felt fearful for their safety because of Looney, a janitor at the school, according to a probable cause statement in support of the charges filed against Looney.
In the report, the student said Looney was walking to lunch at the school on March 3, 2025, when Looney asked for their social media contact information from the janitor’s closet, the statement said.
The student didn’t give Looney their contact information, but on the way back from lunch, Looney passed the student a piece of paper with his social media information written on it, according to the court document.
The next day, Looney attempted to give the student his contact information again, the statement said. A second student witness told the school resource officer she had a sexual encounter with Looney.
A third student said Looney added her on social media and asked her to send nude images of herself, the statement said.
In an interview with investigators, Looney admitted to the incidents, the statement said.
Looney pleaded guilty to the charges on May 18, according to court records. He will receive credit for time served.
