An East Texas school district policeman was fired and faces two felony charges for allegedly sending sexual communications to an underage student.
Jonathan Adriel Tiner, 35, was the assistant chief of the Silsbee Independent School District Police Department.
Tiner was arrested last month and charged with online solicitation of a minor and improper relationship between educator and student.
Online records show Tiner began working for the Silsbee ISD PD during the 2024-25 school year. He previously worked for the city of Lumberton and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Tiner was reportedly booked into the Hardin County Jail on May 22. He has since been released on bonds totaling $400,000—$200,000 for each charge.
Silsbee ISD Superintendent Gregg Weiss released a statement acknowledging Tiner’s termination and arrest.
Weiss said the district is cooperating in the ongoing investigation with the Silsbee Police Department and the Texas Rangers, who are leading the investigation.
“The safety and well-being of our students will always remain our highest priority,” stated Weiss. “Any behavior that compromises the trust placed in those who serve our students will be addressed immediately.”
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas school employees—including school police officers—have been accused of sex crimes involving students and minors.
Livingston police officer Ryan Boyd was arrested in May and charged with having an “improper relationship” with a student at Livingston High School, where he was assigned to work.
Sanger ISD Police officer Israel Demello was indicted in February on three counts of sexual assault of a child and one count each of indecency with a child by sexual contact and sexual performance of a child.
Thousands of educators have been reported to the Texas Education Agency for sexual misconduct.
