Former CJ, McDonald County teacher bound over for trial in statutory rape case

Josh Long, 30, a former Carl Junction and McDonald County teacher and coach was bound over for trial on statutory rape charges following a preliminary hearing Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court. Long allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl:

The girl entered the court crying Thursday and remained tearful as she testified how she had sex with Long in the kitchen of his home on June 12. She said her relationship with him began toward the end of last school year and included near-daily texting of messages to each other via cell phones.

She told the court that he’d sent her by phone a picture of himself shirtless, and she’d sent back two nude pictures of herself. She testified that she had been to his house on another occasion when his wife and stepson were there and that she went there June 12 specifically to have sex with him.

“We had planned on seeing each other,” she told the court.

She described how they kissed, disrobed and had sexual intercourse on the kitchen island in his home.

Long had been hired to teach and coach at East Newton High School this fall, but resigned after the charges became public.