An athletic trainer for the Brooks County Independent School District was arrested for alleged sexual contact with an underage student.
Robert L. “Bobby” Saenz was arrested on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison.
Saenz was an athletic trainer at Falfurrias High School when the allegations arose in December of last year.
The student alleged that Saenz kissed her.
Commander Jorge Esparza with the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Texas Scorecard that an investigation yielded enough evidence for a warrant to be issued.
Esparza said Saenz turned himself in on December 30 and was released on a $25,000 bond.
He added that the investigation is ongoing and all findings will be turned over to the district attorney’s office.
Brooks County ISD Superintendent Scott Rogers confirmed in December that Saenz had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and had “tendered his resignation.”
“We take these matters very seriously and are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our students and the trust of our community,” wrote Scott. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”
Online records show that Saenz had worked for Brooks County ISD since 2022.
Saenz does not appear to hold a Texas teaching certificate, nor is he currently listed as “under investigation” on the state’s Do Not Hire Registry. Such a notation on the DNHR is customary when noncertified school employees are reported to the Texas Education Agency for alleged sexual misconduct.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas teachers have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children, and thousands have been reported to the TEA for sexual misconduct.
