An El Paso County Sheriff’s Office investigation has led to multiple criminal charges against three employees who worked in a special education classroom at Deanna Davenport Elementary School in the Canutillo Independent School District.
A substitute teacher, a professional and special education teacher were arrested.
The substitute teacher has been charged with failing to stop or report the alleged assault of a special education student after investigators said she witnessed the incident and took no action.
According to a complaint affidavit, Cecilia Rocha-Lucero, 27, faces a charge of ‘Failure to Stop or Report Sexual or Assaultive Offense Against a Child’, a state felony offense.
Investigators allege the incident occurred on May 6, inside a classroom at Deanna Davenport Elementary School in Canutillo.
The classroom serves students in a self-contained behavioral unit within the school’s special education program.
Court records allege Urrutia injured three separate students during incidents that occurred in 2025 and 2026.
Investigators say one student reported that Urrutia pulled her hair with enough force to cause pain. The affidavit states the allegation was corroborated by statements from the child’s mother, a written complaint submitted to the district, and prior reports involving similar allegations.
A second affidavit alleges surveillance footage recorded on May 5 showed Urrutia aggressively confronting a student inside the classroom.
Investigators claim Urrutia repeatedly yelled at the child, questioned whether the student was going to cry, told him to “be a man,” and eventually grabbed the student’s shirt and arms, causing pain and fear.
A third complaint alleges Urrutia verbally berated a female student on May 6, threw classroom items from her desk, and acted in a manner that caused the child to suffer a scratch to her arm. Investigators said the student repeatedly apologized during the encounter and later reported being afraid.
The affidavits state that surveillance video from the classroom played a key role in the investigation. Investigators allege the footage captured Urrutia yelling at students in close proximity, physically grabbing students, and throwing classroom materials.
In addition to the charges against Urrutia, two other school employees have been accused of failing to report or stop the alleged conduct.
Ruth Julieta Flores, a teacher assigned to the classroom, was charged with Failure to Stop or Report Sexual or Assaultive Offense Against a Child, according to court records.
Investigators allege Flores witnessed one of the incidents involving a student and Urrutia but did not intervene, notify law enforcement, or report the conduct.
The affidavit further alleges that Flores later made disparaging remarks toward the student and did not express concern regarding Urrutia’s actions.
RELATED: Surveillance video prompts 3 arrests in Deanna Davenport special ed classroom probe
Canutillo Independent School District officials said in a previous statement that four individuals were terminated, even though only three were reported as arrested.
Three arrested after special education staff conduct probe at Davenport Elementary
KFOX14/CBS4 is working to learn more or clarify this information.
The investigation is ongoing.
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