Former Katy ISD art teacher accused of sex with teen student in classroom closet

Ex-teacher charge with improper relationship with student

KATY, Texas – A Katy High School teacher has been charged with having an improper relationship with a student.

Robert Milton, 42, was an art teacher at the school. According to court documents, the relationship began while Milton was still employed at the school and before the female student graduated in June 2015. The relationship continued after graduation, the affidavit said.

The student told investigators that the relationship started with the former teacher on Instagram. Milton would tell the student how unhappy he was with his wife and that he was available to date, the court papers said. According to the teen's statement, she first met with Milton in April 2015 at the Cullen Sculpture Garden, in Houston, when she booked him as a photographer to take her senior pictures. During the photo shoot, it began to rain so Milton and the teen took shelter in his car, where they began to kiss and touch one another sexually, the document said. The kissing and touching stopped when the student began to feel uncomfortable, according to the court records.

The student said after the photo shoot, on Thursdays the two would meet after school and often kiss and touch inside a storage closet in his classroom, the affidavit said.

After a period of time, the former teacher and the student had sexual intercourse before and after she graduated, according to the court records. The student told investigators that she and Milton would have sex in "cheap" hotels and were once caught by police in Brookshire having sex inside Milton's car, the document said. According to court records, the girl told police she was of age at the time they were caught, to which the officer replied Milton was "old enough to be her father" and "to get out of there."

Investigators confirmed that Milton did rent hotel rooms in his name for two to three hours at a time and paid for them in cash.

The school's principal informed authorities about the relationship after he was approached by the teen and her mother.

Katy ISD released a statement Friday that read:

“At Katy Independent School District, we are committed to providing a safe learning environment for all of our students.

"Yesterday the district was informed that the Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against, Robert Milton, a Katy High School teacher, for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student.

"As soon as the District became aware of the concern an investigation was launched. Milton was immediately placed on administrative leave.

"Several days later, the teacher resigned from Katy ISD.

"The District is cooperating fully with prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office during this investigation and will continue to do so.”

Milton is out of jail on a $30,000 bond.