Local teacher charged with cyber sex crime

New Port Richey, Fla. - A Pasco County teacher is behind bars charged with two counts of soliciting sex acts from a minor.

The statewide sting called "Operation Jail Bait" used undercover detectives posing as teenagers. According to police, 29-year-old Joel Cupps, who taught third, fourth and fifth grades at Trinity Oaks Elementary School, was caught using a web cam to expose his private parts to a person he believed was a minor.

"We're very shocked and saddened. It was quite a difficult surprise to swallow," said Allison Hoskins, Principal at Trinity Oaks Elementary School

The teacher has since resigned. He taught at the school for two years. He was also a teacher at Chasco Elementary from 2005 - 2006, and Dr. Mary Giella Elementary in 2005.

"He made a full admission to the acts and admitting to communicating to what he believed were children over the internet," said Lt. Mike Baute from the Attorney General's Office.

Citrus and Pasco County detectives worked on the sting after they realized they were investigating the same person.

"They just surrounded the house, came from the back and front, pulled up in a garbage truck and everything. There were just officers everywhere," said neighbor Isaac Rios, who witnessed police raiding Cupp's New Port Ritchey home on Thursday morning.

Trinity's principal said that Cupp had no criminal history to her knowledge and that the school system did follow appropriate measures in terms of background checks.

"He had a great personality and he worked well with all kinds of students from a variety of background. They enjoyed being in classroom and learning from him. There have never been any problems," said Hoskins.

According to his personal blog, Cupp was active with the Cornerstone Baptist Church and claims that he was very close friends with the pastor. He said his girlfriend is the woman standing next to him in the photo. Cupp described his experiences serving as a youth camp leader and even volunteered to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

He included several quotes on the website including one that read, "Pride and flesh get in the way of our witness more than anything else I have ever noticed."

Rios said that the teacher had just moved into his New Port Richey home a few months ago.

"Kept to himself, quiet. Pulled in and out, waved, that was about it," said Rios.

His parents did not want to comment on his arrest. Meanwhile, the school issued phone notifications to parents informing them about Cupp's arrest. A substitute teacher will take his place until officials hire a permanent replacement. School starts next week.

"We want everyone to feel good about coming back," said Hoskins.