For a second time in two months, a teacher in Marfa Independent School District is accused of sexual misconduct with a high school student.
Juan Tarango Martinez, 54, was arrested and charged with improper relationship between educator and student and indecency with a child by sexual contact. Both crimes are second-degree felonies punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Martinez taught welding and conjunto music to junior high and high school students in the one-school West Texas district. He has worked for Marfa ISD since 2020.
State records show Martinez was issued a Texas teaching certificate in 2019 that expired in 2020. He also received a career and technology approval for welding.
Martinez was taken into custody Tuesday night by the Marfa Police Department and booked into the Presidio County Jail. Bond was reportedly set at $170,000.
Marfa ISD Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez issued a statement on social media Wednesday acknowledging the latest allegations but without naming Martinez.
Alferez also outlined actions the district is taking in response to the troubling trend of teachers engaging in “inappropriate relationships” with students.
“Like you, the District and Board find this absolutely unacceptable,” wrote Alferez. “We have complied fully with the authorities and are continuing to work cooperatively with law enforcement and child protection authorities.”
Alferez noted that Marfa ISD officials had been in “close communication” with law enforcement investigating Martinez and had taken steps to initiate the teacher’s removal prior to his arrest.
“The district is currently seeking to finalize the immediate termination of this employee’s contract as part of our zero tolerance approach to misconduct,” he added.
To address the ongoing problem, Alferez said Marfa ISD is implementing a “comprehensive action plan” that includes:
- A zero tolerance campaign to clearly define unacceptable behavior.
- Training for all teachers and staff in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency to reinforce appropriate boundaries with students.
- Training for students to recognize and report inappropriate behavior.
- A clear path for students and parents to report concerning behavior.
- Guidance materials for parents to help initiate conversations at home.
The district will also hold a town hall meeting to discuss the new policies and provide a forum for parents, staff, and community members to speak and ask questions.
“I want to assure our families and community that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” stated Alferez.
Martinez is among hundreds of Texas educators accused of sex crimes involving students and other children over the past few years in school districts across the state—including Marfa ISD.
Just last month, Marfa ISD elementary teacher Rebecca Ontiveros was arrested and charged with having an “improper relationship” with a male high school student. Ontiveros is the daughter of Trustee Teresa Nuñez.
Responding to that scandal, Marfa ISD trustees voted Monday to remove Nuñez as the school board president.
Last year, Marfa ISD substitute teacher Sonya Murrillo was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing videos showing her performing sexual acts on a prepubescent boy.
Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the TEA since the agency began keeping organized records in 2021.
