Former Olathe High School janitor gets probation for child molestation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former janitor at an Olathe high school was sentenced to probation after he was caught with child pornography in his possession.

John Houghton was arrested in January and charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

According to court documents, it was Houghton’s wife who reported him to police.

On January 22, 2024, his wife noticed him acting strangely after finding a flash drive of his in a drawer.

When Houghton started working at Mission Trail Middle School, she looked at the flash drive, according to court documents.

The flash drive contained photos of Hougton’s wife’s friends in bikinis and child pornography.

He was later arrested by a police officer from the Mission Police Department.

According to court documents, Houghton said he was addicted to seeking out nude photos of children because of sexual assault he experienced as a minor.

Houghton worked at the high school from 2022 until he was fired the week he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to the charge in a July plea deal. A Johnson County judge sentenced him Monday to 36 months’ probation.

Houghton was given credit for 260 days spent in jail awaiting sentencing.

—