An Austin Independent School District employee has been arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching and grooming a teenage student.
The teenage student’s name, age, and gender are being protected.
Isaiah Xavier Smith, a college readiness tutor at Akins High School, was arrested on December 8 for indecency with a child by sexual contact—a second-degree felony. He was employed with the district between September and October, until the incident was reported by the student’s parent.
District and court paperwork show that on October 25, a parent reported to law enforcement that she had found her child crying. The teenager’s mother said that while Smith and the student were alone in a computer lab he grabbed the student’s genitals twice—once over the clothes and once over the underwear.
The teen then said that Smith had asked the student to remain behind with him in the computer lab after the other students were dismissed. According to court paperwork, the student’s claims were corroborated by surveillance video showing the two alone in the computer lab.
The student also told police that the two had contact once before and both times Smith offered to buy the teen shoes and underwear. Police noted the incident as “grooming behavior” in the affidavit.
Austin ISD’s assistant superintendent of secondary schools, Angel Wilson, told parents in a letter that Smith was immediately terminated from his position after the alleged incident was reported.
“Your child’s safety is our greatest concern. We are doing everything we can to understand how this incident occurred to prevent situations like this in the future,” wrote Wilson.
Fox News 7 reported that according to Travis County court records, Smith’s bond has been set at $30,000 with the condition that he wears a GPS tracking device. He was also directed to stay away from public and private schools.
Texas Scorecard reached out to Austin ISD for an update on the investigation but did not receive a response by publication.
