EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A former special education teacher in El Paso is facing serious criminal charges after a grand jury indicted her on allegations she abused the students in her care.
Former El Paso Independent School District teacher Rachael Anne Lucas has been indicted on 16 counts of injury to a child or disabled individual.
According to court documents, the alleged abuse occurred in May 2025 inside a special education classroom at Charles Q. Murphree PK-8 School. Prosecutors allege Lucas intentionally caused bodily injury to multiple non-verbal students with special needs.
The indictment accuses Lucas of striking children with objects including a broom, chair, cell phone and dustpan. She is also accused of pushing and throwing some students to the ground. In one case, prosecutors allege she sprayed a child with a liquid. Several counts also allege Lucas caused injury by failing to provide proper care and supervision to the students.
Investigators with the El Paso Independent School District Police Department say surveillance video captured the suspect forcefully pushing a 3-year-old student to the ground inside a classroom.
According to one of the affidavits for Lucas, the investigation began after paraprofessional reported allegations involving Lucas and multiple students in the school’s special education classroom. School Principal Christine Miles told investigators she became aware of the allegations after Torres reported the incident.
Investigators with the El Paso Independent School District Police Department reviewed classroom surveillance footage.
Court documents state, video from inside Classroom A-170 shows Lucas directed a 3-year-old child to “go sit down.” Seconds later, investigators say Lucas approached the child and repeated the command in a louder voice.
Although part of the camera’s view was blocked by a stroller, the affidavit states investigators observed Lucas push the child from the upper back and left shoulder area, causing him to fall to the floor “in a forcible manner.”
The classroom paraprofessional is then seen helping the child off the floor. Investigators wrote that as Torres walked with the child while holding his hand, the child appeared to be crying and displayed signs of pain and discomfort after the incident.
Lucas remains in custody at the El Paso County Detention Center. If convicted, Lucas could face prison time.
“The individual is no longer employed with EPISD,” a spokesperson with the school district said when asked for a comment on the indictment and the arrest.
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