Number of Texas Teachers Charged With Sex Crimes Continues to Grow

Texas teachers continue to be arrested for sex crimes in alarming numbers.

Last year, Texas Scorecard reported on more than a dozen Texas teachers charged with sex crimes, most involving students.

In 2023, the number of educator sex-crime stories exploded. At least 100 Texas teachers made headlines for everything from sexually abusing students to creating child pornography.

Often police arrested multiple educators in a week—or even a day—and charged them with crimes which include the following:

• Sex with students (referred to in Texas law as “improper relationships”)
• Sexual abuse or assault of children
• Soliciting sex with minors or prostitutes
• Possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material

These “bad apples” represent a tiny fraction of Texas educators, yet officials are still failing to protect children from sexual predators who seek access to victims within our schools.

Educator Sexual Misconduct and “Improper Relationships”

Under Texas law, it’s a crime for any public or private school employee to engage in sexual contact with a student of any age, or to solicit sexual activity with a student using the internet or other electronic messaging.

An improper relationship between an educator and a student is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

The criminal misconduct also violates the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics and is grounds for teachers and administrators to lose their state certification.

Research shows that educator sexual misconduct is a serious problem in U.S. schools.

A 2022 study found that 11 percent of recent high school graduates reported experiencing at least one form of educator sexual misconduct during grades K-12.

Experts say social media is “a huge driver” contributing to the rising number of teacher-student sex crimes.

Sexual Abuse and Assaults

A number of Texas teachers were arrested or sentenced this year for sexually abusing students or other children. Charges ranged from indecency with a child by sexual contact to sexual assault. Some teachers were accused of a single crime against one student, while others were charged with molesting multiple victims or of continuous abuse. Educators accused of sexually abusing students can also be charged with improper relationship.

Solicitation of Sex

Multiple educators were charged with soliciting sex during 2023, either hiring an adult prostitute (a felony) or using texts or phone apps to solicit sexual activity with a student or minor (also a felony). Several teachers were caught in sting operations.

Child Sexual Abuse Material

A disturbing number of Texas teachers are being charged with possessing and/or distributing child sexual abuse material, commonly known as child pornography. At least one teacher is accused of recording himself abusing a young child and distributing the video.

Child Grooming

Texas educators are also starting to be charged under a new state anti-grooming law that makes it a third-degree felony to establish a connection with a child in an attempt to subject them to sexual abuse or human trafficking.

Protecting Students From Sexual Predators

An investigative report this year by Business Insider on the “epidemic of sexual abuse in schools” concluded that nationwide “we’ve collectively valued the reputations of teachers over the safety of students.”

More than half of states have specific educator sexual misconduct statutes, according to a 2020 report that also found a link between media coverage exposing sexual misconduct by teachers and an increase in the creation of the statutes.

Yet that report questions whether the legislation is merely “crime control theater” or if it effectively reduces child sexual abuse by educators.

The role of legislation on the issue is still unclear, with more research needed to determine whether legislators have enacted laws that can effectively regulate educator ethical behavior, and whether such laws serve as an effective tool to prevent, and respond to, sexual abuse in schools.

“We need to stop the pedophiles from having direct access to our kids,” says Texas mom Aileen Blachowski. “We need an inspector general for education.”

Blachowski is part of Texas Education 911, a grassroots movement promoting parent-identified policy solutions to problems within the state’s troubled government school system. The group wants the state to enforce more accountability on local school officials for the safety of students.

“Our kids are literally a captive audience, exceptionally vulnerable, and the pedos know where to find them and where they will not be held accountable. And today that is in Texas public schools,” she said. “That has got to stop. One more victim and one more day is not acceptable.”

This Year’s “Bad Apples”

Below is a sampling of 100 Texas educators accused or convicted of sex crimes in 2023.

January

Oakridge School in Arlington: Former facilities director David Languell was arrested for online solicitation of a minor and sexual assault of a child under the age of 17.

San Antonio ISD: Middle school teacher Lloyd Pegues was arrested for allegedly sending sexual photos and messages to a student under 14 years old. Police believed he may have also targeted other minors.

Wilson ISD: Athletic director and math teacher William Ray Palmer III was indicted on charges of improper relationships with students, indecency with a child by contact, and indecency with a child by exposure.

IDEA Public Schools-Mission: Teacher Karen Sosa was charged with improper relationship between educator and student after Sosa and the student had “sexual contact” off campus. The student told police Sosa had sent him “flirty texts and lewd photos” via Instagram.

Boerne ISD: A Champion High School teacher resigned after she admitted communicating inappropriately with students through text messages and social media.

New Caney ISD: Teacher and coach Samantha Cummings was arrested for improper relationship between educator and student.

Palestine ISD: Palestine High School band director Adrian Alonso was charged with improper relationship between educator and student after having sex with a student for more than two years.

Prosper ISD: School Board President Drew Wilborn was arrested for indecency with a child at a church where he worked.

Southwest ISD: Southwest High School theater teacher Lane Allen Walker was charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Lewisville ISD: Marcus High School teacher and football coach Cecil Timothy Morrison was arrested in a prostitution sting.

February

Northwest ISD: A Byron Nelson High School teacher resigned in December 2022 after being accused of “inappropriate communication” with a student and was charged in February.

Valentine ISD: Teacher Albert Douglas Ackley was convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Ackley also confessed to having sexual contact with children in the past, including two victims while he was working in Marfa ISD.

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD: Memorial Early College High School teacher and track coach Macario Zarate III was charged with having an improper sexual relationship with a student.

City View ISD: Seven administrators, including current and former superintendents, were arrested for failing to report sexual misconduct allegations.

Boyd ISD: Substitute teacher Kelcei Michelle Ferguson was arrested for improper relationship with a student and online solicitation, after she sent nude photos to a 15-year-old male student via Snapchat.

Plano ISD: High school teacher Michael Lloyd was accused by a former student of “inappropriate” and “criminal” behavior with the girl between 2005 and 2009.

Bishop CISD: High school chemistry teacher Andrea Marie Pena was charged with five felonies following accusations she was having a long-term improper relationship with a student.

United ISD: United High School teacher Jordan Herrera was arrested for allegedly having an “intimate relationship” with a female student.

Waller ISD: Waller High School teacher and volleyball coach Joseph Anthony Mata was accused of having sex with a 15-year-old volleyball player on campus and in his apartment and car. He faced charges of indecency with a child and improper relationship between educator and student.

McKinney ISD: Substitute teacher Michael A. Newhouse Jr. was arrested as part of a DFW-area operation to apprehend online predators who distribute child sexual abuse material.

Parish Episcopal: Elementary school teacher Brandon Froning was arrested as part of a DFW-area operation to apprehend online predators who distribute child sexual abuse material.

Tyler ISD: Three Lakes Middle School ISS teacher/assistant Andre Jefferson was arrested and later pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child and improper relationship with a student. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Crowley ISD: Richard Allie Middle School teacher Christopher David Session was charged with sexually assaulting a child who attended a different school in the district and improper relationship between educator and student.

Fort Bend ISD: Leonetti Elementary School teacher Kimberly Masi was arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child. The charge was tied to allegations of an inappropriate relationship when she taught in Alvin ISD.

Comal ISD: Teacher Orlando Naumann was charged with improper relationship between educator and student and possession with intent to distribute child porn. He was the third Comal ISD teacher charged with sex crimes involving students in one year.

March

New Braunfels ISD: Special education teacher and girls’ soccer coach Bryant Shephard was arrested for “inappropriate contact” with a student.

Grand Prairie ISD: South Grand Prairie High School agriculture teacher Cody Bush was charged with improper relationship between educator and student.

Buffalo ISD: Life skills teacher Gary Buckaloo was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and indecency with a child by sexual contact.

New Caney ISD: Former New Caney High School principal David Loyacano was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 for allegedly abusing a girl who lived in his home from 1996-2003.

Terrell ISD: Terrell High School teacher and softball coach Danielle Graber was accused of having an inappropriate relationship and/or communications with a student from another school district. She previously worked in Mesquite ISD

Belton ISD: Belton High School athletic trainer Trevor Swift was accused of watching child porn at school, in view of students. He was charged with possessing visual depictions of sexual activity involving “prepubescent minors” under the age of 12. Swift also worked at Killeen ISD.

Navasota ISD: Navasota High School science teacher Daniel Byrd was arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography.

Mansfield ISD: Legacy High School special education aide Diego Barona was arrested for sexual assault of a student younger than 17.

Dallas ISD: Garcia Middle School athletic director Kaylen Cottongame was arrested for having an improper relationship with a student.

April

Mansfield ISD: Legacy High School special education aide Diego Barona was arrested a second time and charged with improper relationship between educator and student.

Dallas ISD: Bryan Adams High School teacher Qasim Grazier was arrested for improper relationship between educator and student after he drunk-texted sexual messages to a 10th-grade girl.

Elgin ISD: Bus driver Jimmy Kerlin was fired for “grooming” behavior toward an 11-year-old girl.

Magnolia ISD: Magnolia High School math teacher Grant Tozer was arrested for an improper relationship with a student and possessing child porn.

Lewisville ISD: Camey Elementary’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, John Collett, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a 10-year-old child and indecency with a child by sexual contact,

CyFair ISD: CyFair High School life skills support paraprofessional Ennis Hernandez was arrested following accusations he inappropriately touched one of his 17-year-old students multiple times throughout the school year.

Northside ISD: O’Connor High School teacher David Vetters who worked at the school for 12 years, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to planning and facilitating the sexual assault of a 12-year-old child who was being abused by another man. The victim also said Vetters forced him to perform a sex act.

May

Lorena ISD: Lorena Primary School substitute teacher Nicolas Crenshaw was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he sexually abused two 4- and 5-year-old girls in his pre-K classroom. Crenshaw pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a young child, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a young child, and indecency with a child by contact.

Mansfield ISD: Paraprofessional Clarence “Bud” Hayes was charged with soliciting a prostitute.

Newton International Academy of Arlington: Athletic director Alberto De La Cruz was charged with improper relationship between educator and student.

Killeen ISD: Fowler Elementary teacher Klay Camp was arrested for online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age.

Texans Can Academy-Austin: High school teacher David Hoelewyn was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student after sending her hundreds of sexual messages and nude pictures via Snapchat. He was charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship with a student.

Northside ISD: Warren High School teacher and coach Stephanie Woods was charged with improper relationship between educator and student, following reports she engaged in a sexual relationship with a female student starting when the girl was 17.

Wayside Schools Austin: Pre-K teacher Irving Perez was charged with possessing child pornography he obtained and shared via Instagram.

Bushland ISD: Softball coach John Owen Blair was arrested for solicitation of prostitution.  

June

Itasca ISD: Superintendent Michael Stevens was charged with online solicitation of a minor after he planned to travel to Houston and engage in sex with a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Stevens sent “pictures of his private parts” to an undercover investigator and asked for “nude videos.” Stevens was previously the superintendent of Channing ISD. Before that, he worked in Mesquite, Palacios, Vernon, and Electra ISDs.

Houston ISD: Sutton Elementary School teacher Manuel Ponce was accused of touching and looking at second-grade girls’ private parts. He faced multiple charges for sexually abusing several young students from 2019 to 2022, including three counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison.

Henrietta ISD: Elementary school teacher’s aide Blaine Tyler Frost was accused of using Snapchat to create and distribute homemade child sexual abuse material involving a very young boy. He was charged with indecency with a child by exposure and by sexual contact and possession with intent to promote child pornography.

Frisco ISD: School resource officer Kendal Augustus was charged with multiple felonies involving sex with a 14-year-old student: sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by sexual contact, and sexual performance of a child.

Amarillo ISD: Austin Middle School substitute teacher Lucio Antonio Murillo was wanted for sexual assault and improper relationship between educator and student after he allegedly  “engaged in sexual contact” with a male student at Caprock High School.

Pflugerville ISD: District police officer Estavan Alonzo “Steve” Soliz was charged with online solicitation of a minor after he allegedly used Snapchat to solicit sex with three 13-year-old students at Kelly Lane Middle School.

Fusion Academy: Private teacher Alisha Feuerbacher was arrested for improper relationship between educator and student. Feuerbacher previously worked at Lovejoy, Frisco, and Prosper ISDs.

July

Chapel Hill ISD: Fabrizio Olague, a dyslexia interventionist for K-3 students, was charged with five counts of possessing child pornography with intent to distribute.

Judson ISD: Band teacher Mark Mallow was arrested for possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age. Mallow had been charged in August 2022 with promoting child pornography but was out on bond.

Vernon ISD: Coach Billy Joe Boyce was charged with sexual performance by a child and multiple counts of indecency with a child by contact and by exposure, which allegedly occurred during two separate incidents.

Lasara ISD: Girls’ sports coach Miguel Angel Carlos was charged with online solicitation of a minor after attempting to meet up with a 15-year-old girl in Houston for sex.

Red Oak ISD: Red Oak Middle School teacher and coach Gershon Caston was charged with sexual assault and sex trafficking of a minor. He taught at three other North Texas districts in the past several years.

Nacogdoches ISD: McMichael Middle School teacher Annaleigh Andrews was charged with a dozen total counts of sexual assault and child sex trafficking.

August

Jacksboro ISD: Jacksboro High School paraprofessional Elizabeth Bondarets was charged with having an “improper” sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student.

Hughes Springs ISD: Girls’ volleyball coach Aaron Marshall was sentenced to 100 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter after a jury found him guilty of nine felony counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child by contact.

Houston ISD: Marshall Middle School math teacher Abdurahman Milani was arrested for sending pictures of his genitals to two 14-year-old female students via Instagram, then allegedly assaulting one of them at school. He was charged with sexual assault of a child, improper relationship between educator and student, indecency with a child, and online solicitation of a minor.

KIPP-Houston: East End High School teacher Over Santiago Garcia Lopez was charged with improper relationship between educator and student and sexual performance by a child after he was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old female and recording their sex acts.

Edinburg CISD: Johnson Elementary teacher Isaac Rojas was charged with charged with improper relationship between educator and student for alleged sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl.

September

Arlington ISD: Sam Houston High School teacher Anthony Rashad Hawkins was charged with three counts of improper relationship between educator and student–forcible rape and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.

Mission ISD: Sharyland High School secretary Samantha Lee Carranza was arrested for allegedly performing sexual acts on a male student and was charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between an educator and student.

Grand Prairie ISD: Young Women’s Leadership Academy teacher Matthew Ramos pleaded guilty to improper relationship between educator and student and online solicitation of a minor and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Ramos taught in middle school at the all-girls academy and began a sexual relationship with his student when she was 16.

Tyler ISD: Substitute teacher Karen Dunn was indicted on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student after she was accused of inappropriately touching an elementary school girl and inviting the girl to her house.

October

Northwest ISD: Eaton High School assistant principal Mose Brown was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14.

Brock ISD: Brock Junior High science teacher Channing Kula was charged with improper relationship after she admitted to having sex with a male student in her car.

Longview ISD: Longview High School teacher John Faulkner was charged with improper relationship after allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a student.

O’Donnell ISD: O’Donnell High School science teacher and boys’ basketball coach Nicholas Bueno was convicted of one count each of enticement and attempted enticement of a minor, and also pleaded guilty to three counts of transfer of obscene material to a minor.

Keller ISD: Teaching assistant Keli Borish was charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact and improper relationship between educator and student, based on allegations from a student under Boish’s supervision in 2017 at another campus.

Spring Branch ISD: Northbrook High School paraprofessional Sonia Heredia was charged with an inappropriate relationship with a student

Brazosport ISD: Brazoswood High School teacher Michael Watson was charged with receipt of child porn.

Mount Pleasant ISD: Teacher Cristian Gomez was arrested on charges of molestation.

Richardson ISD: Retired Berkner High School girls’ soccer coach Charles Ray “Chuck” Brandon was charged with possession of child pornography.

November

Rockdale ISD: Rockdale High School teacher Shawnee Nicole Despain was charged with improper relationship between educator and student and possession/promotion of child pornography.

Pilot Point ISD: Pilot Point High School athletic trainer Javier Errisuriz was arrested and charged with child grooming.

Houston ISD: Eastwood Academy High School teacher Christopher Wayne Williams was charged with improper relationship between educator and student after the victim told police she and Williams—a past Teacher of the Year—had sex in his classroom. Four other administrators were fired along with Williams.

Mesquite ISD: Hodges Elementary School teacher Ricardo Tello was arrested on charges of indecency with a child.

Lamar CISD: Tamarron Elementary kindergarten teacher Troi Moore was sentenced to 20 years for sexually abusing a 6-year-old male student after the longtime teacher was found guilty of indecency with a child by sexual contact and by exposure.

Tioga ISD: Teacher Brad Strickland was allowed to resign rather than be fired over allegations he groomed a now-former female student over the course of two years.

Celina ISD: Assistant Superintendent Russell McDaniel was arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute online.

Tyler ISD: Substitute teacher Davian Hunter was accused of sexually assaulting a Hubbard Middle School student in a school bathroom and was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student.

December

Austin ISD: Akins High School college readiness tutor Isaiah Xavier Smith was charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact after allegedly inappropriately touching and grooming a teenage student.

Spring Branch ISD: Memorial High School teacher Stephen Griffin was charged with improper relationship between educator and student after a girl in his class alleged the two engaged in sex for months while he was separated from his wife.

Spring Branch ISD: Memorial High School choir teacher Lawrence Johnson was charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship with a student following allegations he started a sexual relationship with a “depressed” 10th grade student that lasted more than two years.

Fort Bend ISD: Clements High School Principal Brian Shillingburg was arrested for soliciting a prostitute.

Fort Bend ISD: A recently resigned Clements High School teacher was arrested on a warrant out of Georgia for trafficking persons for sexual servitude.

Keller ISD: Keller Middle School band director Jedidiah Maus was sentenced to 15 years behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually abusing at least 13 boys over the course of at least 10 years, often exposing himself, masturbating, and touching the students in the school bathroom.

Klein ISD: Epps Island Elementary teacher Matthew Stegeman was charged with indecency with a child by contact following accusations that he improperly touched a 7-year-old female student “with the intent to arouse and gratify his sexual desire.”

Klein ISD: Greenwood Forest Elementary School music teacher Kenneth Espree was charged with five counts of possessing child porn. Espee previously taught in CyFair ISD.

Joaquin ISD: Teacher Sarah Ramon was charged with indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child, and improper relationship between educator and student.

Greenville ISD: Greenville High School robotics teacher Corey Bankston was arrested on multiple charges of possession with intent to promote child pornography.

United ISD: Gonzales Middle School teacher Adriana Rullen was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old student, having “sexual intercourse/sexual contact with the boy on 12 occasions” and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, improper relationship between educator and student, and indecency with a child by sexual contact.

Brazosport ISD: Brazoswood High School teacher Brandyn Hargrove, a one-time Teacher of the Year, was indicted on 12 counts total of sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by contact, and indecency with a child by exposure for sexual activity with a teenage student that began in 2007.