MARFA — Marfa ISD teacher Juan Martinez, 54, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with indecency with a child and improper relationship between educator and student, both second-degree felonies.
Martinez was arrested at his home in Marfa on Tuesday evening at 11:53 p.m. by the Marfa Police Department. He was booked into Presidio County Jail, and as of press time remains in jail. His bond has been set at $170,000.
According to records from the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office, the location of the crime was Marfa ISD. Martinez works at Marfa High School as a welding and music instructor. Marfa PD was unable to provide details on the investigation by press time.
Martinez’s arrest marks the second arrest of a Marfa ISD teacher in just two months. In August, Marfa Elementary teacher Rebecca Ontiveros — who has since resigned — was arrested and also charged with improper relationship between an educator and student. Her arrest prompted public calls for the removal of her mother, Teresa Nuñez, as president of the Marfa ISD School Board. This week the board voted to appoint trustee Philip Boyd as the new president.
On Wednesday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. the district released a lengthy statement on social media attributed to Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez about the arrest. It states that the student, like in the Ontiveros case, is a Marfa ISD High School student. “Like you, the district and the board find this absolutely unacceptable,” the statement said.
The district was previously made aware of the investigation, according to the statement, and prior to Martinez’s arrest was taking steps to initiate his “removal” from the school. “The school is currently seeking to finalize the immediate termination of this employee’s contract as part of a zero tolerance approach to misconduct,” the statement said.
Alferez stated that MISD will be retraining its staff on the topic of sexual harassment in schools, including “inappropriate workplace behaviors and relationships.” A list of action items — including the zero-tolerance “campaign” and staff training — also lists optional training for students on “what inappropriate behavior looks like,” a clear reporting path and guidance materials for parents.
In order to present the district’s new policies and provide a space for the community’s “voices to be heard,” the district plans to hold a town hall soon in the Shorthorn Gym, the statement said, with the date to be announced.
The statement said that the district is able to offer counseling and support services to any students, parents or staff in need, and it is continuing to cooperate with law enforcement on the investigation.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to include input from the district and Martinez’s bond amount.