A casting agent who worked for famous films such as School of Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and Super 8 has been discovered to be a registered child sex offender.

Jason James Murphy served five years after being convicted in 1996 for kidnapping and molesting an eight-year-old boy in Seattle. He was arrested in New York after the story was the subject of an America’s Most Wanted episode.

His listing was discovered on the National Sex Offender Public Website, which cited his current residence as West Hollywood. He works under a shorter name, Jason James.

Super 8 director J.J. Abrams said he became aware of James’ past after his manager David Lonner had been tipped. ”It’s shocking and it’s devastating, not just as a filmmaker but as a father and someone who is entrusted to make sure that everyone I work with, especially children, are safe,” Abrams said.

There are no known complaints about James, though the concealment of his real name may be a violation of the terms of his sex offender registration.

Gives me the heebie-jeebies!

[image: THR]