Note: The video above reflects top headlines from the morning of March 14, 2025.
LUBBOCK, Texas — James Michael Tapley, 31, a former Lubbock middle school teacher, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for Online Solicitation of a Minor and Improper Relationship Between an Educator and a Student.
Tapley, who was an Irons Middle School teacher, got 10 years for each charge, and he will serve the sentences concurrently.
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EverythingLubbock.com previously reported a concerned adult reported the situation to police in November of 2023. A police report at the time said “several videos” were found to be sent from Tapley to the victim. Court documents said the victim was younger than 14 years old.
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According to court records, at one point, the victim went to some volleyball games and could not be found for about an hour and a half. According to the report, the child was ultimately found at Tapley’s workplace in the school.
Court records stated police went through the victim’s laptop and two phones, one of which was given to the child by Tapley. According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators discovered Tapley contacted the victim through social media and “electronic means, for the purposes of establishing a future sexual relationship.”…