Alleged sex abuse in school just one concern for sheriff

The parent of a student attending Robert M. Bracker Elementary School in Nogales has accused a staff member at the school of molesting her eight-year-old child, according to records from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office that is investigating the allegations.

“The accusations are that the kid was abused by a teacher. That has not been proven,” said Sheriff Antonio Estrada. He added that he could not comment until the investigation is complete.

According to records from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, on March 2 at 8 a.m., a school official called dispatch and asked to speak to a deputy about the alleged incident involving one of her staff members. Records show the call was listed as a “sex offense.”

The teacher is on administrative leave per policy of the school. School Principal Michelle Olguin had not returned calls made by the Nogales International by press time.

Boy charged in BB gun assault

An 11-year-old boy from Nogales was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly shot another 11-year-old boy who was walking home.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada said that on Feb. 25 at 9:49 a.m., someone from Robert Bracker Elementary School called about a student who had welts on his arms. The caller said a BB gun or pellet rifle possibly caused the injuries.

The victim told deputies he was walking to his house in the Chula Vista subdivision when a boy with a group of other kids shot him with BBs. Estrada said the alleged shooter was picked up by deputies and charged.

Illegal migrants roughed up and robbed

Two illegal migrants who were picked up by Border Patrol agents near Kino Springs said they were roughed up and robbed on the night of Feb. 24.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada said that the robbery was reported on Feb. 25 at 5:58 p.m. The men told sheriff’s deputies that after entering the United States from Mexico, they were crossing U.S. Forest Service property at around 10 p.m. when two unidentified men in dark clothing confronted them and demanded money.

The victims said they were punched and handed over $25. No weapons were involved and the case is under investigation.

Estrada said that in the next week his office would schedule a meeting to deal with the increase in reports of robberies, rapes, and shootings along the northern side of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Border Patrol is also invited,” said Estrada. He said that this is not the first time his department has had to deal with surges in borderland crime. In 2007, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office assembled a task force to deal with robberies near Arivaca.

In a recent interview with the Nogales International, Santa Cruz County Attorney George Silva said he is looking into forming a similar task force.