BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An undercover sting operation in Florida led to the arrest of an Indiana University economics department director on Thursday for the solicitation of a child.
An investigation involving the Bloomington Police Department and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) identified 61-year-old James K. Self as an alleged online predator through his communications with officers who posed as a 14-year-old boy in October.
OCSO investigators reported Self had initiated contact and requested nude images from who he thought was a child on a social media platform. Self also shared photos of his genitals and wanted to directly meet the “minor” for sex acts. He even revealed that he was a college professor through messages.
These findings were shared with Bloomington Police Department on Jan. 8. After police identified Self as a Bloomington resident, they began monitoring him before his arrest.
The Bloomington Police Department says Self was taken into custody during a morning traffic stop and moved to Monroe County Jail. He faces a low-level felony charge, according to WISHTV.com.
Police interviewed Self before transporting him to jail. He confessed to communicating with young people through apps, but said he’d never carry out his “fantasies.” He claimed to have never done anything physically inappropriate with a minor.
According to WISHTV.com, Self also reportedly referred to his actions as “disgusting” and admitted to having “done some really bad things.”
Additionally, Self’s home was searched after his arrest to collect more evidence.
The Indiana University said it learned of the arrest on Thursday. Self was suspended and banned from IU property.