Alleged sex abuse in school just one concern for sheriff

By JB Miller
Published Friday, March 13, 2009 10:45 AM MDT

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.

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Comments

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 31, 2009 10:19 AM:

" Whatever, the ignorance resides in you. All Im saying is why not bring it to trial? I don't know if the teacher is guilty or not, I just see the same pattern taking place. As for your question as to why am I so sure the law covers up for people, its the general law, its the Santa Cruz County law that continues to cover up for boy pedifilers. Perhaps it did not happen to you while you were in school but it happened to a lot of young men and boys and that's a fact!! "

WHATEVER wrote on Mar 27, 2009 11:45 AM:

" Why are you so sure that the law "covers up" for people? Do you believe in people being innocent? Or, in people falsly accusing others in hopes of getting money?

It is plain to see that you have already found this person guilty no matter what happens, and that is unfortunate... or is it plain ignorance?! "

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 27, 2009 12:14 AM:

" Here is a quick lesson on law, if the trial is civil people settle for money and the attorneys get rich. If the trial is criminal, the County Attorney's office or AG prosecutes a person and if found guilty they either go to jail or pay a fine to the Government authority. So, in Nogales, the law covers up for the pedifilers and the victims have to take the case to court on a civil matter. BTW, when a civil case is settled is because the defendant has more than 50% culpability. "

Whatever wrote on Mar 25, 2009 4:28 PM:

" How can you say that Nogales has a history of not taking boy's claims seriously? This case you take about made it as far as it did, and the boy and his family where awarded money for damages. If what you say is true, then this would not have happened. If a settlement was reached, by both attorneys, then isn't it just as much the prosecuting attorney's fault for not "letting us find out the truth." The boy and his family had to agree to the settlement, or did they not?

And if I remember correctly, this NHS principal did not retire after this incident. You should really try to be more objective when "informing" people, instead of bending the truth to fit to your agenda. "

Teacher wrote on Mar 25, 2009 4:21 PM:

" To Coscorrones...I disagree with your comment about this being up to the County Attorney's office to take to trial, or that they may be too afraid to take it to trial. It seems to me that you are the one that doesn't know what it means to prosecute someone, so let me enlighten you.

If after the investigation, that has been conducted since 3/2, there is not sufficient evidence to support the allegation that has been made by the parent, then the County Attorney's office does not HAVE to take it to trial. There is nothing there to prosecute.

The downside to not going to trial, is that the teacher won't be able to clear their name, I agree with you on that. Unless...the teacher is the one that decides to prosecute the parents for defamation of character.

For the sake of all teachers, I hope that this teacher does prosecute these parents. This trial would set a precedent that you shouldn't try to do something like this AND LIE, just to try to get money. "

OMG wrote on Mar 25, 2009 4:08 PM:

" Well this has been going on too long, if the sheriffs have anything, wouldn't they have arrested him already? All of you have a valid point, but really? And on the NHS principle, why did they settle out of court? Because they probably didn't have enough evidence to go to trial, and the parents would have gotten nothing. Lets let the police and schools do there job, hopefully quickly and get on with it. "

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 24, 2009 8:47 PM:

" One of the previous NHS principals was accused of sexual misconduct and placed on administrative leave. The case was settled out of court making the student very rich. The police did not take the case to the County Attorney so we never got the truth other than the attorneys felt they should settle the case out of court for a hefty amount. The principal retired. So you see, Nogales has a history of not taking students complaints seriously especially if they are boys. "

Parent wrote on Mar 24, 2009 10:12 AM:

" As a parent I would be very upset. I think all of you need to get your heads outta the "dirt". Just because you think you know someone, doesn't mean this person is innocent. Nogales and it's residents are a joke. It all depends on who you know and so on and so forth. NOBODY has the fact straight yet, so why is everyone speculating? Well, it's because Nogales residents think they know everything....... Hopefully it is not true "

HER wrote on Mar 21, 2009 12:28 PM:

" Well, like I said "I hope is not true for the sake of everyone". And I am sorry, but since I am not that old to know when he was a teacher, then placed as a counselor etc.... And as far as the parents not being Nogales citizens, that is where a lot of things come to fact. You see "district" knows about kids not actual living physically in the AZ side, and yet don't do nothing about it!!! "

OMG wrote on Mar 20, 2009 5:48 PM:

" SHE-You need to get your facts right-He was a teacher for many, many years before he became a counselor. He was not let go from NHS, before you comment get your facts straight! This is typical Nogales residence, gossip, and rumors. The parents of the child are one the citizens of Nogales should be worried about. They are money hungry. Get your facts straight before you write anything. "

HER wrote on Mar 20, 2009 12:22 PM:

" Well, let me see. He was a counselor for years, never a teacher. How come he was released by the NHS, then placed in an Elementary school? I don't know, I hope is not true for the sake of the kids itself, but it does sound fishy??? "

shocked wrote on Mar 20, 2009 11:26 AM:

" I agree that any person guilty of this type of crime should be prosecuted. I just believe that this case is way too fishy. I just think there is no way something like this can happen in a school. I know a lot of teachers and by talking to them, there is not one second where a teacher is left alone with a student. I think this is just a scam from the mom to get money. This child should be evaluated as well as the mom to check for prior accusations. We are surrounded by a lot of ignorant people in this town and since the moment this incident occured, I've heard tons of different stories. Let the police do the investigation and don't judge teachers or schools without knowing the outcome. "

OMG wrote on Mar 20, 2009 10:40 AM:

" This teacher is inocent! Lets see, they put the teacher on admin leave on March 2, three weeks ago.....I hope the sheriff is covering all bases to prove him inocent and found out the real truth. Who is to say the parents are the ones lying! Maybe they knew someone was on to this, so they are covering there behinds and putting the blame on some one inocent! and if they are lying and putting this teacher through this horrible agony and stress, then they are the ones to be prosecuted! Makes you want to become a teacher! This person has been in the school district for over 35 years! HELLO OPEN YOUR EYES! "

Still Another Teacher wrote on Mar 20, 2009 7:43 AM:

" I'm sorry to say that "Innocent until proven guilty" is seldom the case with a teacher accused of...well, much of ANYTHING. Many people see the accusation itself as proof of wrongdoing. This is a bad situation no matter what. If it's true, then a trusted educator has betrayed his trust by molesting a student and damaging that for years to come -- a tragedy. If this is false, then a teacher with decades of positive contributions to the community is having his name dragged through the mud by a lying student and (at best) stupid parents -- also a tragedy. If true, the teacher should go to jail and never be allowed near a school again. If false, the student and his/her parents should be sued for everything they own -- house, car, whatever -- and be made an example of also. "

huh wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:09 PM:

" just like they did with the NHS principal?? did i miss something here. what happened that might lead this alleged case to be treated the same way?? im confused. please shed some light on this... "

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 18, 2009 9:10 PM:

" I agree with you all about getting the facts before hanging the teacher but we will never get there because our wonderful County Attorney is afraid to take it to trial.
We are all saying the same thing, in case you don't know what it means to prosecute someone. If the law enforcement does not allow this teacher to clear his name in a court room with a jury of his peers, then the school will be sued and the insurance company will settle the case just like they did with the NHS principal.
So folks take all that anger and put it to good use, call George Silva and tell him to take this case to trial. Let justice work for all!!!! "

hey wrote on Mar 18, 2009 3:12 PM:

" Coscorrones, have you ever heard of the expression, "Innocent until proven guilty?" Something tells me that your ignorance is leading you to come up your own conclusions. Oh, he is a teacher. Oh, he is being accused of molesting a child. Oh, let's just hang him now before even knowing the facts. If indeed this teacher is found guilty, then YES by all means may he get the punishment he deserves. But dont go casting stones when the evidence has not been brought to light. Just read what "Another Teacher" wrote. Some punk kid was accusing a teacher of hitting him. The kid was lying. It could very well be that this student from Bracker could be lying as well. It could go the other way too, he could be telling the truth. Stop and take a look at society today. There is a lot of corruption these days. A lot of it stems from what the media portrays as acceptable. I am anxious to know the facts of this case because it will be then that our opinions will be valid. For now, let's just wait and see what the facts are. "

Another Teacher wrote on Mar 17, 2009 9:40 PM:

" As an educator myself, it is very difficult to know that a fellow collegue is capable of commiting such an act. However, I know of a very similar situation where a teacher at another school was being accused of hitting a child. Turns out that the student was LYING!!!! YES!!! LYING!!! During these tough economic times, it is frightening and down right disgusting, that a parent could put a child up to making such accusations that would in turn cause a law suit to be filed, thus maybe winning some kind of settlement!! It would not be unheard of, though. From what I know, the teacher being accused has been with the district for many many years. I have sisters that had him as a teacher. And after all these years a sexual molestation charge is being brought up?? I dont know.... smells kind of fishy to me. We will not know until all of the facts have been gathered and presented in a court of law...oh no!! Let it not be the "Honorable Judge Soto" presiding cause who knows how events will unfold then. "

Teacher wrote on Mar 17, 2009 5:49 PM:

" As a teacher, it is scary to know that when it comes to things like this you are guilty until proven innocent. And even then, if you are proven innocent - the damage has been done. Your name has been smeared all across town by the pathetic people who have nothing better to do than to talk about the misfortunes of others. "

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:45 PM:

" Of course the teacher gets an abrazo, he is your compadre, right? Why a Buick and not a Dodge and keep it within your boys? "

ABRAZOS wrote on Mar 16, 2009 11:08 PM:

" You are right... IF this was true then the teacher would be prosecuted. But, if this is some SICK ATTEMPT BY THE PARENTS to try to get a QUICK BUCK by putting their child through something like this, then they should be the ones that will be prosecuted for slander. "

Coscorrones wrote on Mar 13, 2009 4:12 PM:

" The teacher accused of a sex offense should be prosecuted. Why do I have a funny feeling this guy will get abrazos instead !!!!! "

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