Ex-Substitute Teacher Fired, Accused Of Fondling Female Students

PASADENA, TX — The families of two Pasadena ISD elementary school students who were allegedly sexually molested by a substitute teacher said they plan to file a civil lawsuit. The parents of the students said Wednesday that Pasadena ISD failed to protect their children.

The incidents reportedly happened at Jessup Elementary School on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, and involved at least 15 fourth-grade girls who said the substitute teacher touched them while they were all in the classroom, officials said.

Some of the girls reported that the substitute touched them on their shoulders, back and legs. One of the students said the touching was much more disturbing, and described how the substitute teacher reached into her shirt and fondled her breasts, and touched her private parts.

Attorney’s representing the families said the incidents were reported to a school administrator on Oct. 4, but nothing was immediately done, and the man was back in the classroom on Oct. 5.

District administrators learned of the incident and fired the substitute teacher on Oct. 5. That same day, the principal sent a letter home to parents that read in part:

"The safety and well-being of our students is of paramount importance at Jessup Elementary. Pasadena ISD takes all allegations of misconduct very seriously. We applaud the 4th-grade students who courageously reported to the counselor they felt uncomfortable when a substitute touched them on their backs, shoulders and legs. Our counselor notified me right away, and I began an investigation, which led to removing the substitute from the campus immediately. We then reported the incident to the Harris County Child Protective Services (CPS) and Pasadena ISD Police, and this remains an active investigation…”

Attorney’s representing the families of two of the students said the substitute teacher, whose name has not been released, had been a registered sex offender in Maine several years ago after being convicted of possessing child pornography.

He subsequently passed a background check before he was hired to work with children in Pasadena ISD, officials said.

The man still has not been arrested and the case is under investigation.

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