‘Operation Naughty List’: Clements High School principal arrested in undercover prostitution sting

A high school principal in Sugar Land was arrested on a prostitution solicitation charge.

Fort Bend County deputies arrested 43-year-old Brian Shillingburg during a sting operation late Monday.

KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry caught up with Schillingburg after he posted a $5,000 bond as he walked out of jail.

“Mr Shillingburg? Do you have a message for the community that trusted and looked up to you?” Newberry asked

“I don’t, no.” Schillingburg replied.

Schillinburg hurried away from KPRC 2′s cameras.

“Is there anything you’d like to share about your side of the story?” Newberry asked.

Immediately after, Schillingburg shuts the door.

During the operation, dubbed “Operation Naughty List,” Shillingburg allegedly met an undercover officer at a Missouri City hotel to perform sexual acts in exchange for compensation.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Shillingburg met the undercover officer at a Holiday Inn Express located at 50007 Highway 6. There, he allegedly agreed to pay for sexual intercourse, including oral sex, for $90.

The undercover detective then gave a predetermined arrest signal and a team entered the room and took Shillingburg into custody.

In total, the operation resulted in 16 arrests for solicitation of prostitution. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office conducted the operation in conjunction with other members of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance Taskforce. According to a probable cause affidavit, the objective of the operation, described as a “proactive undercover buyer operation,” was to “identify and arrest sex buyers in order to reduce the demand for victimized sex workers.”

Shillingburg was appointed principal of Clements High School in 2022. Before that, he was principal at James Bowie Middle School.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Fort Bend Independent School District acknowledged the arrest, adding that there would be an “administrative transition.”

“Clements principal Brian Shillingburg was arrested on December 11th by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Solicitation of Prostitution/Other Payor” the district wrote. “We are committed to ensuring there is no disruption to instruction and a smooth administrative transition.”

Collectively, Shillingburg has more than two decades of experience in education. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, he taught kindergarten and fourth grade and served as an elementary instructional coach. In 2012, he graduated with a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at Sam Houston State. He spent four years in Spring Branch Independent School District as an assistant principal at Landrum Middle School.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office released the mugshots of all 16 individuals arrested in the sting.

Arrests during sting operation (Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office)

Arrests during sting operation (Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office)