A teacher for Marfa Independent School District is accused of sexual misconduct with a student.
Rebecca Romijn Ontiveros, 25, was arrested and charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
The offense includes sexual contact or sexually explicit communication with a student, regardless of the student’s age.
According to a report by the Big Bend Sentinel, Ontiveros had “developed a relationship” with a high school student.
The Sentinel also reported that the suspect is the daughter of Marfa ISD School Board President Teresa Nuñez.
Ontiveros is an elementary paraprofessional in the one-school West Texas district.
She has worked for Marfa ISD as an educational aide since 2023. State records show Ontiveros does not hold a Texas teaching certificate.
Ontiveros was arrested and booked into the Presidio County Jail on August 21. She was released the next day on a $75,000 bond.
The district sent a statement to parents indicating that a school employee had been arrested.
“Marfa ISD is fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities and will continue to provide any necessary assistance throughout the investigation,” the statement read. “The safety and well-being of our students remain the district’s highest priority.”
Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez told Texas Scorecard, “Due to the ongoing investigation involving a Marfa ISD employee, the district has no comment at this time.”
Last year, Marfa ISD substitute teacher Sonya Murrillo was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography videos showing her performing sexual acts on a prepubescent boy.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas teachers have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children.
Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the Texas Education Agency.
