CLEARWATER, Fla. – Bruce William Joseph was awakened in his home early Tuesday morning by smoke, a loud bang, flashes of light and SWAT officers who were there to arrest him for cyber-stalking, revenge porn and harassment of a 19-year-old who once attended the high school where his wife worked.
The two month investigation started when the victim's mother contacted Hubbard Investigations after family members received harassing text messages and emails, including naked photos of the victim, according to Judge PR, which is representing the firm.
The family contacted a private investigator because they initially didn't know who sent the messages and wanted them to stop, the public relations firm said.
Joseph met the victim in 2015 while he chaperoned an event at Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, where the victim was a student and his wife is the director of academics, according to police.
Joseph and the victim had a consensual sexual relationship once she graduated from high school, but after the affair ended in 2017, he used the victim's real name and naked photos to create social media accounts and profiles on dating websites, the public relations firm said.
"According to investigators, Joseph utilized more than 35 different phone numbers, numerous aliases, email addresses and screen names to pretend to be (the victim) and other people over the last year," the firm said in a statement. "He allegedly contacted her fellow sports team members at her college where she plays basketball, along with coaches and family, and sent them harassing messages involving (the victim). Additionally, the investigation alleges that while imitating (the victim) through the imposter accounts, Joseph also invited men and women he met online using imposter (the victim's) accounts to come over to (the victim's) residence under the premise that she wanted to have sex with them. All of this was reportedly carried out without her knowledge and permission."
Watch as SWAT officers move in to arrest Joseph:
Joseph created Instagram and Snapchat accounts using the victim's information, according to court documents.
"An IP address was obtained from one of the VOIP numbers and the fake Snapchat account that was found to be registered to the defendants' home," according to an affidavit filed by Largo police. "He then used the sites to engage in conversation with strange men while assuming the victim's identity. The defendant would give directions to the victim's home and on two occasions men have arrived at her home believing they were going to have sex with the victim."
The teen's mother, who spoke to reporters during a press conference Tuesday evening, said the ordeal has been a difficult lesson to learn for everyone involved.
"My heart was broken because I thought I raised them better and when I asked her 'why did you do this?' she says 'he asked for me to do,' I'm like, just because somebody asked for them you don't send them," said Crystal, who only wished to be identified by her first name.
"If anything comes out of this I just hope other girls, and even boys, you can't send out pictures, look what he's done. He pretended to be her on different social media accounts "
John Hubbard, founder of Hubbard Investigations, believes this isn't an isolated incident.
"Over the course of our investigation, we have found that Joseph utilized numerous aliases and had relationships with many young women around the country," he said in a statement. "I hope now that he has been arrested, if there are other victims out there, that they will feel safe coming forward.”
Joseph is charged with felony aggravated stalking, sexual harassment and criminal use of personal identification. He bonded out of Pinellas County Jail on Tuesday. He is no longer employed with Ravn Alaska, a regional airline serving the state.
10News Reporter Josh Sidorowicz contributed to this report.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.
Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
