A Texas middle school teacher has been charged with grooming a 14-year-old student after surveillance footage showed him grabbing the girl’s butt in a hallway — while taking bedding into a classroom, where they spent the night together, according to police.
Sergio Gonzalez, 54, was first accused of sharing “inappropriate” text messages with the girl, with the investigation then leading school officials to find the alarming footage from the summer break in July, according to an affidavit obtained by Fox 4 News.
The video showed the teacher “grabbing the victim’s buttocks and then walking down the hallway while holding hands before entering the classroom,” the affidavit said.
“There was video footage of the individuals walking down the hallways, carrying pillows and blankets, spending the night at the school,” Balch Springs Police Officer Pedro Gonzalez told the outlet.
“Both the teacher and the student were spending the night at the school,” he said.
Three employees at A.C. New Middle School in Mesquite first reported Gonzalez in August for allegedly sharing disturbing messages with the 14-year-old pupil.
“There was accusations that there was text messages between the student and the teacher making inappropriate comments,” the Balch Springs officer said, with him allegedly calling the girl “baby” and his “love.”
Other students alleged that the teacher would offer rides to the girl, visit her outside of school hours and touch her inappropriately, the report said. The girl’s family claimed they knew the two spent time together but trusted Gonzalez and did not know the relationship crossed lines.
The teacher was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 20 and the district reported the relationship to the Balch Springs Police Department. He later resigned from the district he had worked in for 20 years.
During an interview with authorities, the teenager was “downplaying the situation while demonstrating her deep concern for [Gonzalez] and what happens to him,” the affidavit states.
“And that’s why this has been such a lengthy investigation,” officer Gonzalez said. “Building this case where the victim is not cooperating 100%.”
The teacher was arrested at his home in Forney Wednesday morning but refused to talk to detectives.
He is charged with child grooming — but additional charges may be forthcoming, police said.
