22-Year-Old West Texas Substitute Teacher Arrested on Improper Relationship Charge

A 22-year-old substitute teacher for Balmorhea Independent School District has been arrested on a felony charge for an inappropriate relationship with a student, officials have stated.

According to an affidavit seen by NewsWest 9, Meranda Jasmin Valerio has been charged with one count of improper relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony, and arrested on September 2 by the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office began the investigation after allegations that Valerio had an improper relationship with the former student while she was a substitute teacher in the district. The incident took place in the previous school year and extended till the summer.

According to a report submitted by Child Protective Services, the student involved was a 17-year-old male at the time of the incident. Before arresting her, investigators questioned Valerio and other witnesses in addition to the alleged victim and secured a warrant. Valerio turned herself in to the sheriff’s office and posted a $50,000 bond to be released.

Under Texas law, Chapter 21.12, it is considered a criminal offense for a school employee to sexually abuse a student enrolled in the same school where they work. The act is a second-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

In addition, the chapter lists the defenses that can apply to the accused in such cases. These include cases where the accused is the victim’s spouse, the relationship began before they joined the school, and the age difference is no more than three years. State law also protects the student’s name in such cases.

Balmorhea ISD is a rural district of southern Reeves County with a single school campus for students of prekindergarten through 12th grade. According to Texas Tribune data based on state records, the district had 145 students in the 2023-2024 school year.