A San Antonio-area band teacher was arrested after being accused of two crimes involving a student, Universal City officials said on Thursday.
Stephen Strawn, a band teacher at First Baptist Academy near Randolph Air Force Base, has been charged with child indecency and child grooming, according to a new release. The charges stem from a Feb. 11 incident, records show.
City officials said they arrested Strawn, 50, after receiving the report and conducting several interviews. He was in the process of being booked into the Bexar County jail as of Thursday evening, court records show.
Universal City police detectives gathered “sufficient evidence to support criminal charges” against Strawn, officials said.
In a statement, lead pastor Ryan Gilbert of First Baptist Church and First Baptist Academy said the school was made aware of the incident after Child Protective Services visited the campus on March 16, following a report of an alleged inappropriate interaction between Strawn and a student.
The school placed Strawn on administrative leave immediately, and he is no longer serving on campus. Gilbert said the church and academy are fully cooperating with law enforcement and Child Protective Services.
He emphasized that the safety and well-being of students is the highest priority and that the school is committed to maintaining a secure and supportive environment.
“We are also working to provide appropriate care and support for students, families, and staff affected by this situation,” Gilbert said.
Out of respect for privacy and the ongoing investigation, the school is not providing additional details, and officials are asking for continued prayer for those impacted.
The Universal City Police Department is urging anyone with additional information related to the case or Strawn to contact Detective Lieutenant Daniel Carmona at dcarmona@ucpdtx.org
The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.