BLOOMINGTON — A high-ranking official within Indiana University’s Department of Economics was taken into custody Thursday morning following a multi-state undercover investigation into online predators.
James K. Self, 61, the Director of Undergraduate Studies and a senior lecturer at IU, faces a preliminary low-level felony charge of child solicitation. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between the Bloomington Police Department (BPD) and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The investigation began in October during a sting operation based in the Florida panhandle. Undercover officers posing as a 14-year-old boy on a social media platform were reportedly contacted by an individual seeking sexual acts.
According to police reports, Self initiated contact and requested nude photographs. He then sent explicit images of his own genitals to the juvenile. Police say Self expressed a clear desire to meet in person for sexual encounters. He also identified himself during the communications as a college teacher.
On January 8, Florida investigators shared their findings with Bloomington detectives, who identified the suspect as Self and confirmed his local residency.
Self was apprehended during a traffic stop at approximately 6:45 a.m. Thursday without incident. Following the arrest, authorities executed a search warrant at his Bloomington home to gather further digital evidence.
During police interviews, court documents reveal that Self admitted to using apps to communicate with young people, characterizing his own actions as “disgusting” and admitting he had “done some really bad things.” However, he claimed he would never act on these “fantasies” and denied ever being physically inappropriate with a minor.
Indiana University moved swiftly following the news, issuing a statement confirming that Self has been suspended and banned from all university property.
Until his arrest, Self was a prominent figure on campus. His professional profile included being a senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies (Economics). His expertise is in economic principles, money and banking, and public finance. He is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, having served from 1982 to 2014.
Self was transported to the Monroe County Jail following his interview with detectives. While the investigation remains active in Indiana, online records in Florida did not yet show an active case as of Thursday afternoon.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
