College professor accused of exposing himself to students at university’s activity center

AUSTIN, Texas (KBTX/Gray News) - A Texas A&M University professor set to begin teaching this fall has been arrested on a charge of indecent exposure stemming from an alleged incident earlier this year at a different college.

Russell Taylor Johns was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Texas A&M University Police Department. The warrant was issued by the University of Texas Police Department, according to jail records.

Johns was booked into the Brazos County Detention Center and later released on a $7,000 bond.

According to court documents, Johns allegedly exposed his genitals and touched himself inappropriately at the William C. Powers Student Activity Center on the University of Texas campus at around 9 p.m. on April 29. A staff member reportedly witnessed Johns masturbating while looking at students.

University of Texas police initially issued Johns a criminal trespass warning after speaking with the alleged victim, who spoke only Spanish, according to the warrant.

Days later, officers fluent in Spanish conducted a follow-up interview with the woman, who clarified that Johns was staring at two female students seated across from him while exposing himself.

The warrant states Johns had been invited to the University of Texas at Austin campus by the Department of Petroleum and Geosciences.

In July, Texas A&M University announced that Johns had been hired to work at the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering.

“We believe that Dr. Johns’ vast and diverse technical knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our department’s teaching and research mission,” the social media post read.

On Thursday, a Texas A&M spokesperson confirmed Johns’ hiring, but did not clarify his current employment status. University officials said he had not yet begun teaching.

An online biography states Johns most recently worked at Penn State as a Professor Emeritus of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, and previously served on the University of Texas petroleum engineering faculty from 1995 to 2010.

As part of his bond conditions, Johns must avoid contact with the alleged victims and their families, refrain from committing any additional offenses, and submit to random drug testing.

Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.