Embattled Celina Independent School District now faces a state criminal investigation into claims that administrators covered up a coach’s past predatory behavior toward male students, enabling him to record undressed middle school boys in the locker room.
On Friday, Paxton posted to X that his office is investigating.
“I have directed my Criminal Investigations Division to investigate reports related to the arrest of a Celina ISD employee who committed horrendous acts against children,” wrote Paxton. “Any individual who broke the law or was involved in the heinous actions that have been reported will be brought to justice.”
Paxton’s announcement followed a request Thursday by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Allen) for the state to investigate the locker room recording scandal and any related coverups.
Leach asked the AG to open a “fully independent and outside criminal investigation” of Celina ISD administrators’ actions leading up to this month’s arrest of Moore Middle School Coach Caleb Elliott on charges of invasive visual recording and possession of child sexual abuse material.
A lawsuit filed by families of boys recorded by Elliott alleges that school officials knew of past instances of the coach preying on male students but deliberately covered them up—possibly to protect the legacy of Celina ISD’s famed football program.
Caleb Elliott is the son of longtime Celina ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Bill Elliott.
On Friday, Celina ISD Superintendent Tom Maglisceau wrote to Paxton that the district had placed both Coach Bill Elliott and Moore Middle School Principal Allison Ginn on paid “non-disciplinary” administrative leave effective that day, October 24, pending completion of the district’s own third-party investigation.
In a letter sent to Celina ISD parents that same day, October 24, the superintendent indicated that the district’s investigation is now on hold.
Maglisceau stated that the Celina Police Department “directed Celina ISD to hold off on the District’s investigation into this matter to avoid any potential conflict with the police department’s criminal investigation and prosecution of Caleb Elliott. Celina ISD is complying with CPD’s directives.”
Previous reporting on the Celina ISD scandal:
- Celina ISD Coach Charged With Invasive Visual Recording of Middle Schoolers
- Celina ISD Middle School Coach Faces New Child Porn Charge
- Celina ISD Lets Coach Resign After Locker Room Recording Scandal
- Victims of Locker Room Recording Scandal Sue Celina ISD for Coverup
- Lawmaker Calls for State to Investigate Celina ISD Scandal
Hundreds of Texas educators have been accused of sexual misconduct with students and other children in just the past few years.
