The former educator was arrested in January of 2024 after he was accused of “sending inappropriate messages to a child student at the school.”
PLANO, Texas — A former Plano private school educator has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was accused of grooming a child, court records show.
Jacob Allred, a former employee at Great Lakes Academy in Plano, pleaded guilty to sexual performance by a child, a second-degree felony, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Collin County court records show.
Allred was arrested in January of 2024 after he was accused of sending “inappropriate messages to a child student at the school in a sexual manner,” as WFAA previously reported.
The allegations stem from online conversations that reportedly took place between October and December of 2023. The conversations occurred on campus and over an instant messaging app called Discord.
The student, who was identified as a 15-year-old, made a report to Plano police in January 2024. The victim also accused Allred of unwanted touching while on campus.
The victim produced screenshots of conversations to police detectives and told the detectives Allred asked about “the color of her underwear and talk[ed] about his sexual desire for her.”
“As trusted educators charged with protecting the safety and well-being of our students, we take seriously our roles in fostering a safe, positive and nurturing environment. We are shocked and deeply disappointed to learn of the alleged violations made by a former employee of Great Lakes Academy,” Great Lakes Academy Executive Director/Founder Marjolein Borsten said in a previous statement to WFAA. “To protect the privacy of those involved, and as this is an active and ongoing investigation, we cannot provide additional information. We hold our employees to the highest standards and expect them to model the same behaviors built on respect, empathy, and accountability that we ask of our students. We have zero tolerance for any act that threatens or undermines this mission. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and remain committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff in any way we can.”
The mother of the student who made the accusations filed a lawsuit against Allred, the school, and the school’s principal.
According to a news release from Varghese Summersett law firm, which is representing the mother, she is accusing the school and its principal of not fulfilling their “legal and moral duty.”
“The lawsuit asserts that Allred was not the only adult who failed the children under his care,” the law firm said in the news release. “It alleges that Principal Matthew Jason Campbell, a mandatory reporter under Texas law, was made aware of previous instances where Allred attempted to groom children. Instead of reporting the misconduct to authorities, he issued a verbal warning and written reprimand.”