Texas A&M Professor Arrested for Indecent Exposure by UT Police: What You Need to Know

A Texas A&M University professor was arrested for indecent exposure linked to an incident at the University of Texas at Austin earlier this year. Russell Taylor Johns was taken into custody by Texas A&M University Police on a warrant issued by the University of Texas Police. He was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center and released on a $7,000 bond.

Court documents indicate that Johns allegedly exposed himself and inappropriately touched himself at the William C. Powers Student Activity Center on April 29. A staff member reportedly saw him masturbating while watching students nearby.

Initially, he received a trespass warning after a Spanish-speaking woman reported the incident. A few days later, officers fluent in Spanish spoke to her again, revealing that Johns had been staring at two female students while exposing himself.

Johns was invited to the UT campus by the Department of Petroleum and Geosciences. Texas A&M announced his hiring in July, stating that his extensive experience would benefit their department. However, a spokesperson confirmed that Johns had not yet started teaching.

His past includes a role as Professor Emeritus at Penn State and time at the UT petroleum engineering faculty from 1995 to 2010. Following his arrest, bond conditions require Johns to avoid contact with the alleged victims, refrain from committing additional offenses, and undergo random drug tests.

Indecent exposure is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas, which can lead to up to 180 days in jail and a fine of $2,000.

The incident raises questions about campus safety and the treatment of allegations. According to a survey by the Association of American Universities, over 13% of students experience non-consensual sexual contact during their college years. It’s essential for universities to respond quickly and transparently to such incidents to maintain a safe environment for students.

For more information on campus safety and legal definitions, you can explore resources from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

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