By james art SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jason Imhoff, 45, is facing multiple felony charges after he was arrested by Scottsdale police accused of trying to meet an undercover officer he thought was 13 years old for sex.
Court documents allege Imhoff began chatting online with an undercover officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Imhoff’s account allegedly used the username “AZ Coach” and told the undercover officer that he was a “former youth coach and that he ‘definitely’ liked younger guys,” according to court documents.
Imhoff is accused of sending sexually explicit messages and photos to the undercover officer and eventually driving to meet the undercover officer to have sex. He told the undercover officer that he would present a plan B.
Police stopped Imhof on the road and found cocaine, alcohol and condoms in his car. Imhoff admitted to investigators that he was there to see a “young lady” he had met online.
A social media account with the name Jason Imhoff listed himself as “baseball coach at American Leadership Academy – Ironwood Campus.” A spokesperson for the American Leadership Academy told ABC15, “Jason Imhoff does not work for ALA. He has not worked for ALA since 2018. As is our usual hiring process, we can confirm that he had a valid fingerprint verification card when he was employed by ALA in the past.”
Court documents show Imhoff worked for 18 years as a behavioral specialist at the Centers for Exceptional Students in Austin. Imhof reportedly told investigators that he worked with special needs children.
The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students sent ABC15 the following statement:
“Upon learning of this situation from the Scottsdale Police Department, the Austin Centers immediately separated work with the individual in question. Law enforcement has confirmed that the alleged crimes are in no way connected to The Austin Centers or our students. All individuals hired by the Austin centers are required to pass a comprehensive federal, state and local criminal background check and maintain a current Arizona IVP fingerprint background check card. As we have done for the past 30 years, Austin Centers will continue to place the well-being and safety of our students as our highest priority.”
