Howe ISD head football coach and athletic director Andrew Harvey has been arrested on charges related to the online solicitation of a minor, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week. Harvey, 35, was taken into custody Monday following a multi-agency undercover operation focused on individuals attempting to solicit children for sexual conduct.
According to law enforcement, an investigator from the Tarrant County Human Trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children Unit posed as a minor during the sting operation. Harvey allegedly made contact, continued communication under the belief he was speaking with a child, and arranged to meet at a public location. He was arrested on-site by deputies and is facing multiple serious charges, including online solicitation of a minor, solicitation of prostitution from a person under 18, and the sale or distribution of harmful material to a minor.
Harvey was booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center and later released on a $35,000 bond. His charges include two felonies and one misdemeanor. At the time of his arrest, Harvey was serving as both head football coach and athletic director at Howe High School, positions he began in May 2024 after previously serving as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Following news of the arrest, Howe ISD Superintendent Kevin Wilson sent a letter to families confirming that Harvey was immediately placed on administrative leave. The district stated that he is barred from campus and prohibited from any contact with students or staff. Superintendent Wilson emphasized that Harvey passed the required FBI and Texas DPS fingerprint-based background checks when he was hired in 2022, and that Howe ISD maintains ongoing monitoring of employee criminal history.
The incident has been reported to the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. The Texas Education Agency is currently reviewing Harvey’s teaching certification.
In response to the arrest, the Howe Athletic Booster Club released a statement reaffirming its mission to support student-athletes and condemning any act of child exploitation. “The board believes that ANY exploitation of a child is abhorrent and those responsible should face the harshest penalty possible,” the statement read.
The district has committed to transparency while also prioritizing the privacy and protection of any potential victims. Superintendent Wilson encouraged anyone with information or concerns to contact the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office at (817) 884-3099 or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at (800) 252-5400.
As the legal process unfolds, Howe ISD has stated it will continue cooperating fully with authorities.
