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.
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.
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.
Now, since Stewart is being accused of violating the terms of his probation and he pleaded guilty to “deferred adjudication,” the El Paso County District Attorney’s office said a judge could sentence him “to the full range of punishment,” which in this case means 20 years.
Below is the DA’s full statement:
Our Office takes violations of court-ordered supervision seriously, particularly in cases involving the safety of children. Due to the Defendant’s failure to comply with the terms and conditions of his supervision, our Office intends to file a motion requesting that the judge terminate his supervision and impose a prison sentence. Because the Defendant previously pleaded guilty to deferred adjudication in 2023, the judge may sentence the Defendant up to the full range of punishment, which in this case, is 20 years imprisonment.
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.
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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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