A Weatherford Independent School District teacher was arrested before the first day of class for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old male student over the summer.
Chase Michael Liles, 38, was arrested Thursday and charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Liles was a math teacher at Weatherford High School but resigned Wednesday, according to a notice sent to WHS families about his arrest.
The notice states the district cooperated with the Weatherford Police Department throughout the investigation and was unable to share information sooner due to the “ongoing legal process.”
The district also said it notified the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the State Board for Educator Certification, as required by law.
“Weatherford ISD takes all reports involving student safety extremely seriously,” the notice concluded. “The well-being of our students remains our highest priority, and we are committed to providing a secure and supportive learning environment for every child.”
A statement from the Weatherford Police Department said the investigation began after a July 30 report from CPS that an adult male educator was accused of exchanging inappropriate text messages with a student.
A copy of one of the purported messages circulating on social media is sexually explicit and asks the recipient for nude photos.
Police identified Liles as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Liles was booked into the Parker County Jail on August 6 and released the same day on a $50,000 bond.
The investigation is ongoing to determine if there are additional victims.
Online records show Liles began working for Weatherford ISD in the 2023-24 school year. Liles has held a teaching certificate for math since 2024.
A similar incident occurred in Fredericksburg ISD. An unnamed high school teacher was placed on administrative leave prior to the start of classes for allegedly sending inappropriate communications to a student. The district said it reported the teacher to law enforcement and state agencies, as required.
Another Weatherford ISD teacher, middle school girls’ coach Lance Rankin, left the district in February after it was revealed he was posting on a social media site catering to kinky sex.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas school employees have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children, and thousands have been reported to the Texas Education Agency for sexual misconduct.
The TEA’s Educator Misconduct Reporting Dashboard shows the agency is currently investigating more than 2,500 sexual misconduct complaints.
