LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A former high school teacher from El Paso convicted of having an improper relationship with a student in 2023 was arrested on Thursday after authorities said he was violating the terms of his probation by traveling into New Mexico.
According to New Mexico State Police, 42-year-old Bryan Stewart was arrested after an off-duty NMSP supervisor from the Fugitive Apprehension Unit spotted Stewart’s vehicle at a Las Cruces Walmart after receiving information from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office that Stewart was a wanted man.
Court records show that on August 9, 2023, Stewart, who had been an Irvin High School health teacher and girls’ track coach, pled guilty to two counts of “improper relationship between educator and student” and was sentenced to 10 years of community service of 200 hours for each count.
NMSP said that agents had been looking for Stewart throughout the day and finally arrested him near a home in the 4600 block of Nogal Canyon Road with the help of Deputy U.S. Marshals.
Former Irvin High School teacher Bryan Stewart arrested. Credit: NMSP via Facebook
Stewart was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center, where, as of Monday morning, he remains jailed.
KFOX14/CBS4 is reaching out to the El Paso County District Attorney’s office to learn if a judge will revoke probation and put Stewart in jail for violating the terms of his community supervision.
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Back in August of 2018, Stewart was arrested near Independence, Kansas, after a warrant was issued in July following an investigation at Irvin High School.
The warrant was issued on July 24, and by August 1, authorities had learned Stewart had fled the state and was working in Kansas.
At the time of his arrest, a spokesperson with the El Paso Independent School District confirmed with KFOX14/CBS4 that Stewart resigned April 20, 2018.
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