TOPEKA, Kan. — A registered sex offender was present at a school music event and filmed students after a required background check process was not followed, according to district communication and independently verified information.
The individual, identified as Joshua Troy Lesser, is listed on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s offender registry. He was not an employee of the school district but attended and participated in a school function where students were performing. Video reviewed by This Is Topeka shows Lesser actively recording children during the event.
The district acknowledged in a written communication that the individual had been reported as a registered offender after volunteering at a music concert last November. The statement further noted that a districtwide process requiring background checks for volunteers “was not utilized prior to the event.”
This Is Topeka independently confirmed Lesser’s status as a registered sex offender through KBI public records.
Lesser is married to a district employee, Amanda Lessor, who, according to sources familiar with the situation, resigned from her position this week. This Is Topeka has verified that the employee held a teaching position within the district prior to her resignation, including at the middle school level. The district has not publicly stated whether the resignation was directly related to the incident.
District officials have not provided additional details regarding how Lesser was allowed to participate in the event or whether established procedures for volunteer screening were bypassed or misunderstood.
The case has drawn significant concern among parents, particularly regarding the enforcement of policies intended to limit access to school environments by individuals who have not been properly vetted. Much of that concern has centered on how such safeguards are applied during after-hours events, such as concerts and performances, where standard daytime check-in procedures may not be consistently enforced.
School districts typically require background checks for volunteers who interact with students, though the scope and enforcement of those policies can vary depending on the nature of the event and the level of supervision.
It remains unclear whether Lesser was formally registered as a volunteer for the event or how long he was present before the district became aware of his background.
District officials have not responded to questions about whether additional policy changes or disciplinary actions are being considered.
The incident raises broader questions about how schools balance community involvement with student safety, and whether existing safeguards are sufficient — or consistently applied — in settings outside regular school hours.
