Teacher resigns after having relationship with student

AUSTIN (KXAN) - AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- A South Austin high school teacher, who faces charges of having an improper relationship with his student, resigned Tuesday.

Police said Ranulfo "Randy" Arias, 27, had plans to marry his 17-year-old student at Akins High School.

He taught Spanish and was the cross-country coach there since 2006.

According to an arrest warrant, the student said Arias asked her out on a date in early March. Over the next four weeks the two had several sexual encounters.

On Thursday Arias and the teen, who was accompanied by her mother, applied for a marriage license.

The police report said Arias brought the girl back to his apartment, off Stassney Lane, after they went to the movies last month. The girl said she and the 27-year-old had sex.

Police said they believe the pair went on to meet every Saturday during March and had sex every time they got together.

"Our teachers and all the employees are held to a standard, keep that trust that the parents give upon us," said police Lt. Eric Mendez for the Austin Independent School District.

Whether the parent consented to the marriage, a sexual relationship between a student and teacher is against the law. Texas law states the age of consent is 17, but as a teacher, Arias is considered a public servant.

Arias turned himself into the Travis County Jail Monday night. He has since been released, and the school has placed him on administrative leave.

Arias could face up to 20 years in prison.

KXAN Austin News contacted the Travis County District Attorney's Office, but the calls were not returned.

 

School sends home letter on relationship

A letter sent home on Friday informed students and parents the school believed Arias had an improper relationship with a student.

Principal Daniel Girard wrote he had no reason to believe Arias was involved with more than one student on the campus.

Administrators for Akins High School and the district declined to speak with KXAN on camera, but they gave KXAN a copy of the letter.

To the Akins High School Community:

I need to advise you that an arrest warrant was issued today for one  of our faculty members, Mr. Randy Arias, on charges of having an "improper relationship" with one of our students. As a result the arrest warrant, Mr. Randy Arias was promptly placed on administrative leave, while AISD Police continue to investigate.

We have no reason to believe that Mr. Arias has had an improper relationship with any other Akins student.

The case is now pending with the Travis County District Attorney's office. Because the matter is now a criminal investigation, and because the student involved is a minor, there is not a great deal more information that I can provide at this time.

As always, I greatly appreciate your support of Akins High School. This is both a very serious and an embarrassing situation for Akins High School, but should not, in any way, reflect negatively on the hard work and dedication that our students and staff exhibit every day. The Akins' student body and faculty are working hard to conclude this academic year on a rewarding, productive note.

Sincerely,

Daniel Girard,
Principal

Girard said he was embarrassed by the situation.

 

Parents, Akins students respond to relationship

Reactions from Akins students and their parents to the teacher-student relationship have been mixed.   

"Honestly, I don't think he did it, because I don't think he would do something like that. Honestly, I really don't," said student Brianna Cunningham.

"It just makes you worry about, you know, I send my kid off, and I can't protect them even from their teachers," said parent Angie Blackwell. "You know, you should be able to send your kids to school and feel like, 'Hey they're at a safe place.'"

Students said Arias was a friendly teacher.

"He was a real mellow guy. I'd see him around like the hallways and everything, shake his hand; he'd be really friendly," said student Joseph Johnston. "I just would have never pictured him being something, going beyond his level."

Students also told KXAN Austin News there are others to blame in these situations.

"People just try and brag about things like that. If there's a good-looking teacher or anything, they want to put that on themselves," Cunningham said. "They want to stick that on their sleeves, so they can show people, 'Oh yeah, we did this, this, this.'"

"He knows what he did, and he knows what he didn't do," Blackwell said. "And if he's under investigation, then hopefully he tells the truth."