Seaman USD 345 fires IT employee Thomas Gideon IV after arrest in underage sex solicitation sting

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·1 min read
A sexual solicitation sting conducted last week by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office resulted in the arrest of people who included a Seaman USD 345 employee fired by the district the next day.
A sexual solicitation sting conducted last week by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office resulted in the arrest of people who included a Seaman USD 345 employee fired by the district the next day.

Seaman USD 345 fired technology department employee Thomas Gideon IV one day after he was arrested last week during a sexual solicitation sting.

Gideon's employment ended Nov. 24, said Candace LeDuc, the district's director of communications.

"Mr. Gideon was a non-licensed support staff employee and did not work directly with students during his employment in the district," she said.

Shawnee County Sheriff Brian C. Hill said Gideon was one of two men arrested Nov. 23 in connection with electronic solicitation after going separately to the same house during a sting targeting people who seek to sexually solicit underage children online in Shawnee County.

"During the course of the operation, two individuals arrived separately with intentions of meeting a 15-year-old female who was believed to be home alone," Hill said.

Gideon, 31, and Maxwell L. Bergstrom, 32, were each arrested in connection with electronic solicitation and the sexual exploitation of a child, according to Shawnee County Jail records.

Formal charges haven't yet been filed against either.

LeDuc encouraged residents to contact the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office if they have concerns regarding Gideon.

"The safety of our students is always our highest priority," she said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Employee of Seaman USD 345 fired after sexual solicitation arrest