A 43-year-old Missouri man is charged with child kidnapping after officials claim he posed as a relative to sign a 13-year-old student out from school.
According to authorities, the kidnapping occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. at Cross Keys Middle School last Tuesday. Officials said James E. Paulette walked into the school office and pretended to be a family member of the eighth-grade student.
He told officials that a member of the child’s family had died, and the school permitted him to sign her out. According to court filings, Paulette was not linked to the student and did not know her parents. Despite this, the girl was released into his care, according to First Alert 4.
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Later that morning, a school counselor contacted the victim’s mother after learning her daughter had been checked out. The girl’s parents, alarmed and unable to locate their child, immediately called the police.
The Florissant Police Department opened an investigation and reviewed surveillance footage from the school, which showed the student leaving with Paulette. Investigators identified the license plate of the vehicle and traced it to his residence in Jennings, a community located in St. Louis County. By 1:30 p.m., officers arrived at Paulette’s home and found the girl inside. Police said she was unharmed.
During questioning, Paulette allegedly admitted he was not related to the student and told officers that he had taken her out of school to “play video games.”
School officials quickly issued statements to parents and staff, acknowledging the incident and outlining their next steps.
The Ferguson-Florissant School District shared, “We would like to bring to your attention a recent incident that occurred at Cross Keys Middle School. An individual falsely identified themself as a family member of a student who needed to pick them up due to a death in the family. The student was released but is now safe as a result of prompt actions by District students, staff, and the Florissant Police Department. The individual has been formally charged and is in police custody.
“We are actively investigating this matter and will take the necessary steps to ensure the appropriate level of accountability and support. In the meantime, we want to reiterate our commitment to student safety and security, while also ensuring that all District safety protocols are followed.
“Thank you to our students, staff, and community for your prompt actions that resulted in the safe return of our student.”
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Paulette with one count of child kidnapping. It was reported last Wednesday that he was being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. Court records did not immediately list the date of his next appearance.
According to KVTI, prosecutors said Paulette has a criminal history. Police noted he has two prior convictions in St. Louis City, including possession and criminal possession of a firearm. At the time of the kidnapping, Paulette was on federal supervised release stemming from a March 2018 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released in September 2022.
Authorities said Paulette faces significant prison time if convicted of child kidnapping.
