An elementary school art teacher could be headed to prison after his ex-wife turned him in to police. The teacher, 56-year-old Jason Allen Bassett, reportedly worked for the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Blaine, Minnesota, for 28 years, but now he’s on administrative leave. Police say Bassett used his cell phone to film underneath a minor’s dress and accidentally sent the video to his daughter. When she told her mother, the woman contacted police.
According to court documents obtained by Fox 9, a detective on the case reviewed the footage and found something disturbing. Police claimed that in the video, Bassett showed his face before turning the camera to a girl. She appeared to be between 8 and 10 years old. The girl was washing cupboards in the classroom, and Bassett told her to reach higher. When she did, he allegedly moved the camera up under the skirt of her dress, where he caught video of her underwear before the recording stopped.
When investigators questioned Bassett about the video, per police, he reportedly acknowledged it was wrong but claimed he did it “for the thrill of it.”
Police arrested Bassett, and he faces charges of interfering with the privacy of a minor, the Blain Police Department shared in a statement obtained by North Metro TV. Investigators were able to identify the victim and do not believe any assault occurred. The case remains under investigation.
The news has saddened community members who know Bassett.
“My grandson is so traumatized, This IS his art teacher,” a grandparent wrote on North Metro TV’s Facebook page. “Says he was his favorite teacher. He’s so sad, scared and worried for his classmates this happened too!!!!”
Many former students and parents agreed.
“This is the ONLY art teacher Jefferson has. Meaning any and all grade levels attending Jefferson had him as a teacher for art. My children (kindergarten through 5th grade) have all had him for the last 3 years they have attended,” another parent commented on the post. “I am absolutely disgusted and appalled.”
The district addressed the allegations in a statement to McClatchy News.
“The school district took immediate action to notify staff and families in the school community regarding his status and is working cooperatively with law enforcement to support their investigation,” the district noted.
As of June 5, 2025, Basset no longer appears in the faculty directory on the Anoka-Hennepin School District website.
