PIKEVILLE – Two former Magoffin County Schools teachers were federally indicted and arrested on online enticement charges.
On Thursday, April 24, Jordan Cobb, 32, of Coon Creek Rd, in Salyersville, and Jason W. Back, 42, of Painters Lick Rd, also in Salyersville, were both federal indicted and charged with online enticement and Cobb was charged with an additional cyberstalking charge, according to federal court records. There are sealed indictments in both of their cases that may possibly include more charges, however.
Cobb’s federal indictment accuses him of attempting “to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual under the age of 18, using a means or facility of interstate commerce, to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, namely, Rape in the Third Degree,” in or about April and May 2023. It further states that between June 2 and June 13, 2024, Cobb allegedly, “with the intent to harass or intimidate another person under the age of 18 years old, used an interactive computer service or electronic communication service of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause emotional distress to that person.”
According to Back’s federal indictment, on or about March 6, 2023, continuing until about March 9, 2023, Back allegedly “did knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual under the age of 18, using a means or facility of interstate commerce, to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, namely, Rape in the Third Degree.”
At this time, both are facing not less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000 and a term of supervised release for the online enticement charge, with Cobb facing another 10 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a term of supervised release for not more than 3 years.
Both appeared for a preliminary hearing and arraignment in their cases on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Cobb and Back are both scheduled for pretrial conferences in each of their cases on Monday, June 16, at the federal court in Ashland, before U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning, and jury trials for Monday, July 7, also in Ashland and also before U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning.
Warrants for their arrests were issued on Monday, April 28, and the two were arrested. At press time, they are both being held at the Pike County Detention Center for the U.S. Marshals. A virtual order has been issued to unseal both cases, but the unredacted indictments still remain sealed as of this time.
Local Cases Against Cobb and Back
Earlier this year, the two were indicted by a Magoffin County grand jury in March, with Cobb charged with one count of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means (Class D felony) and one count of harassing communications (Class B misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about May 2, 2023, Cobb allegedly used a cellular telephone for procuring the use of a person, who was less than 18 years old at the time, in a sexual performance. On or about June 12, 2024, he allegedly, with the intent to intimidate, harass, annoy, or alarm the person, utilized social media to contact the child in a manner which caused annoyance and alarm and served no purpose of legitimate communication.
In May 2023, the SI ran a story confirming a middle school teacher reportedly had “inappropriate communication” with a high school student, and that the matter had been turned over to authorities to be investigated and any criminal prosecution. At the time of the news report, the teacher was no longer employed by Magoffin County Schools.
Cobb was arrested the same day he was indicted, held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, and released on a $25,000 cash bond the next day.
Also in that same May 2023 SI news story, Magoffin County Schools Superintendent Chris Meadows had confirmed to the SI that a high school teacher had been suspended without pay earlier that same year, pending an investigation, having been turned over to Kentucky State Police.
That teacher, who is no longer an employee of the school system, was also indicted in Magoffin County Circuit Court in March, with Jason Back, 42, of Painters Lick Rd., in Salyersville, charged with two counts of third-degree rape (Class D felonies), third-degree sodomy (Class D felony), and two counts of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means (Class D felonies).
According to the indictment, Back allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a 17 year old, being in a position of authority and coming into contact with the minor under 18 years old as a result of that position, with count 1 stemming from February 1 through February 28, 2023, and count 2 from March 5 through 9.
The indictment alleges Back, on or about March 5, 2023, reportedly engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with the 17 year old.
Counts 4 and 5 against Back allege he unlawfully used a cell phone for procuring the use of the minor in a sexual performance, with one dated for on or about March 6 through 9, 2023, and the other on or about March 7, 2023.
Back was arrested the same day he was indicted, held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, and released on a $75,000 cash bond the next day.
Neither Cobb nor Back are employed by the Magoffin County Schools District at this time.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
