Three educators in Texas were arrested after they allegedly abused students in a special education classroom at Deanna Davenport Elementary School.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit worked with the Canutillo Independent School District Police Department to investigate the allegations against Josue Urrutia, Ruth Julieta Flores and Cecilia Rocha-Lucero.
The investigation was launched after school administrators reported that they viewed surveillance footage that showed the employees having concerning interactions with their students, according to KFOX 14.
Detectives reviewed the video evidence, conducted interviews and gathered additional evidence as they built a case against the employees.
Investigators ultimately determined that several students in the classroom were allegedly subjected to assaultive conduct, as well as other inappropriate treatment while they were under the supervision of Urrutia, 32, Flores, 59, and Rocha-Lucero, 27.
All three educators were then arrested.
Urrutia, a paraprofessional, was charged with three counts of injury to a child/disabled individual. His bond was set at $25,000 for each count.
Flores, a special education teacher, was charged with two counts of failure to stop or report sexual or assaultive offense against a child, and her bond was set at $20,000 for each count.
Rocha-Lucero, a substitute teacher, was charged with one count of failure to stop or report sexual or assaultive offense against a child, and her bond was set at $20,000.
It is not currently clear if Urrutia, Flore or Rocha-Lucero have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and Deanna Davenport Elementary School did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
Following the arrests, the Canutillo ISD issued a statement about the incident and insisted they remain “steadfast in its commitment to protecting children and maintaining safe, supportive learning environments for every student we serve.”
“When concerns regarding the alleged improper treatment of students at Davenport Elementary School were brought to the District’s attention, we acted immediately. The employees implicated in the allegations were removed from campus, an internal investigation was initiated, and reports were made to the appropriate law enforcement agencies,” the statement continued, per KFOX 14. “Canutillo ISD has fully cooperated — and continues to cooperate — with law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the investigative process.”
After stating that they fired those involved in the situation, the district said they “will continue working with the appropriate authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is held legally accountable for actions that endangered the safety and well-being of children.”
“Our focus remains on supporting the students and families affected by this situation. Throughout this process, the District has worked closely with impacted families and will continue providing access to counseling services and other available resources,” the district said.
The statement concluded by saying that “nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students. We remain committed to ensuring that our schools are safe, secure, and supportive environments where every child can learn and thrive.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
