By james art 
When should you call for help if you think a child is in danger?
Arizona’s child welfare agency says to call the child abuse hotline if you reasonably believe a child has been “abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned.”
The Republic
A Valley special needs teacher and former youth coach could face two felony counts of allegedly inappropriate behavior with a minor Thursday, court records show.
Between Oct. 15 and 16, Jason Imhoff communicated with an undercover Scottsdale Police Department detective posing as a 13-year-old girl through an online platform known to police as a site frequented by predators, court documents show.
Imhoff began the conversation by asking the girl’s age, and detectives responded that she was 13, according to the court document. Imhof responded by saying he “definitely” likes younger girls.
Imhoff and the undercover detective continued to communicate throughout the night. They exchanged photos and Imhof discussed their date, asking if they could get drunk and smoke first.
Imhoff and the undercover detective set a time and place to meet the next day. When Imhof showed up at the meeting, the police arrested him. Police also found a phone that was confirmed to be the one Imhoff used to text the girl, a pack of condoms, an ice chest containing ice and alcohol, and a bag containing a white substance that was confirmed to be that it’s cocaine.
According to the court document, Imhoff claimed he thought he was talking to an 18-year-old because of the site’s age restrictions, even though he was told several times that the girl was 13. He insisted he believed it was all “fantasy”.
Imhoff also claimed he knew about the cocaine in his car, but didn’t know how it got there.
Imhoff was previously employed at Austin Centers for Exceptional Students, a special education school with multiple locations in the Valley and Colorado.
Garen Austin, president of Arizona Schools, said they were made aware of the allegations and immediately terminated the employment.
“Upon learning of this situation from the Scottsdale Police Department, Austin Centers immediately terminated employment with the individual in question,” Austin said in a statement. “Law enforcement has confirmed that the alleged crimes were committed against an undercover agent and are in no way connected to the Austin centers or our students.”
Austin also said that at the time of hire, employees must go through intensive background checks and maintain a current Arizona IVP fingerprint verification card.
Scottsdale police said Imhoff was targeted through a proactive operation aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking through the department’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit.
Imhoff could face charges of one count of enticing a minor for sexual exploitation, one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor and one count of drug possession. His bond was set at $75,000. His next court appearance is on October 30.