Former Mann Middle School teacher submitted his resignation following an investigation and arrest for human trafficking. 

He was one of 12 men arrested for prostitution when soliciting sex from an Asian woman in her 30s. It is charged that she was trafficked into Texas from out-of-state. 

The Abeline Independent School District (AISD) released a statement. 

“Jim Counts has been on administrative leave since Dec. 3, when we were made aware of the allegations against him. Since that time he has not been on campus or in front of students in any capacity. We are aware of the warrant that was issued this morning, and earlier today Mr. Counts submitted his resignation effective at the end of the school year. We will pursue action in accordance with state law that may impact the effective date of his separation from AISD,” read a statement by the Abeline ISD. 

The FBI is assisting in the investigation that began in 2019. The police discovered the activity by scouring advertisements for the woman on the dark web. 

A study by the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault said that there are more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas. It estimated that 79,000 of the victims are youth and teens. Nearly 234,000 are adult victims of sex or labor trafficking.