HOUSTON – A teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student appeared in court on Thursday and was given strict conditions for his release on bond.
Andre Thomas, 32, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child.
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Thomas is a teacher at Roberson Middle School in the Spring Independent School District. He teaches sixth- and seventh-grade industrial technology classes.
Prosecutors said Thomas raped a 13-year-old female student in a classroom in August.
According to court documents, the investigation began two and a half months later, after suspicious cellphone records surfaced showing inappropriate text messages between Thomas and another student.
"She was interviewed as another child that might have known about the other child's cellphone, and, when she was interviewed, she disclosed about the sexual abuse," prosecutor Denise Oncken said.
Court documents show that there is evidence of blunt force trauma.
"My daughter had him. That was her teacher," parent Lily Selestio said.
Selestio and other parents said they are concerned there could be other victims.
At this point, sources said, there's no evidence other children were sexually abused.
Thomas has been released from jail on $30,000 bond, but there are conditions tied to his release. He may not have contact with any children under 17, except his 11-month-old son, and he must wear an electronic monitoring device. He also has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and he may not go within 1,000 feet of a school.
Thomas will return to court in November.
If convicted, Thomas would face 5 to 99 years or life in prison.