A 41-year-old janitor at a Kingman, Arizona school is facing 18 charges after authorities say he traded vape pens and alcohol to teenage girls in exchange for nude photos. Pierce Anthony Eller worked at the school through a private contractor. According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, none of the victims attended the school where he worked, but investigators say the case still raises serious questions about how contractors are vetted before they enter a school building.
The trades allegedly began in February with an underage family friend and involved 10 separate exchanges. The case came to light when that victim told her friends, who then contacted Eller on social media. Three additional girls, ages 14 to 16, allegedly received vapes and alcohol for nude photos. Eller admitted to the allegations on Wednesday, and authorities say evidence was found on his phone. He was booked on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of luring a minor, and four counts of commercial exploitation of a minor.
For parents across the Suncoast, the takeaways are practical. Vapes and alcohol are common grooming tools, and social media is often the point of contact. Deputies say the victims’ friends are part of what surfaced the allegations, a reminder that open conversations at home matter. Have you talked with your kids about what someone might offer them online? Share your approach in the comments.
