A 32-year-old South Texas cafeteria worker is facing a sexual-assault charge after police believe he impregnated a teenage girl.
Benjamin Ace Castro was charged on Aug. 13 with sexual assault, a second-degree felony, according to Nueces County Court Records. Castro, a cafeteria worker assigned to Joseph T. Dawson Elementary School, met the teenager through an online video game, the records said.
In mid-August, CCISD Police notified Dawson Elementary parents that a district employee assigned to the school had been arrested, according to KIII-TV. On Thursday, Corpus Christi Independent School District confirmed to Chron that the employee was arrested and removed from his role.
“Upon notification from law enforcement, CCISD acted immediately to place the auxiliary employee on administrative leave without pay,” a spokesperson for CCISD told Chron in a statement. “There is no indication the allegations involve anyone else affiliated with the district.”
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KRIS 6, investigators say Castro met the victim on Fortnite when she was 16 and later connected with her on Snapchat. The affidavit alleges they had a sexual relationship at Castro’s residence from Dec. 5 through Dec. 20. Investigators say Castro later contacted the victim on TikTok after seeing a due date on her profile. She confirmed the pregnancy but said she did not want a relationship with him.
The investigation began after an off-duty Corpus Christi police officer at Bay Area Hospital learned that a 17-year-old gave birth and that the reported father was 32, according to KRIS 6.The Corpus Christi Police Department is investigating the case.
Several other Texas school officials were arrested this month in cases involving alleged improper relationships with students and child-sex offenses.
On Wednesday, a CCISD employee and former girls wrestling coach was arrested and charged with second-degree felony assault of a child, according to KIII-TV. A former Mary Carroll High School student alleged the 51-year-old engaged in sexual acts with them during school sponsored extracurricular activities.
On Wednesday morning, a Dickinson ISD employee was arrested for allegedly having an improper relationship with a 16-year-old student in the Galveston County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Last Thursday, a 54-year-old former Refugio ISD school resource officer was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault of a child, one count of stalking and one count of official oppression, according to KRIS 6.
In early August, a 32-year-old former Galloway school teacher was charged with continual sexual abuse of a young child, according to KHOU 11.