Marfa
Marfa ISD School Board Member Jay Foster was the lone vote against the final termination of teacher Juan Martinez Monday night at a special meeting. Martinez was arrested in September on second degree felony charges for indecency with a child and improper relationship with a student, an arrest that came mere weeks following a fellow teacher’s arrest for improper relationship with a student.
When asked to explain his vote not to terminate Martinez, Foster refused to comment. Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez could not be reached for comment.
Martinez had taught welding and the school’s popular conjunto program at the district; he remains in jail on a $170,000 bond.
Under Texas law, the state must be ready to prosecute a defendant—usually with an indictment—within 90 days, or the judge must then release the defendant or substantially reduce their bond. In some cases, delays by the defense will extend this timeline. Martinez was arrested on September 16, so that deadline would be December 15.
The 83th Assistant District Attorney, Bill Parham, said Monday that there are no grand juries scheduled for the remainder of this year. When reached, Martinez’s attorney said he could not comment on the case.
The attorney for another Marfa ISD teacher accused of improper relationship with a student and arrested in August, Rebecca Ontiveros, said Sunday that nothing has proceeded in her case. She was released on a $75,000 bond.