HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A former Aldine ISD teacher who resigned while under investigation is now facing felony charges after a student told police he tied her up during one-on-one lessons and recorded video, according to Harris County court records.
Jose Borjas, a former teacher at Victory Early College High School, is charged with two counts of felony unlawful restraint.
The student told school police she was pulled from class for English proficiency help in Borjas’ office, records show.
During those sessions, she told investigators Borjas tore up a T-shirt into strips and used the fabric to tie her mouth, restrain her hands behind a chair, and bind her feet and ankles together, according to records.
“She stated that on 2 occasions, the Defendant recorded her on video and instructed her to act as if she had been kidnapped,” court documents state.
The office lights were turned off, and it was only illuminated by LED lights, according to records.
The student reported the alleged restraint happened five times, leaving her “shocked and unable to react,” court documents show.
She told investigators she believed she was required to attend the sessions as part of her schooling and didn’t know whether Borjas would provide her instruction or restrain her each time she got pulled from class to his office.
Trauma therapist Chau Nguyen said cases like this can involve abuse of authority and grooming, and she encouraged parents and caregivers to talk with children about consent and power dynamics.
“When you’re a student, you look up to your teachers because the teacher is an authority figure,” Nguyen said. “This guy has a position of authority. It’s inappropriate. It’s outlandish. It’s not a scandal. It’s an abuse of power.”
Months after the alleged restraint incidents, over the summer break last year, investigators say Borjas contacted the student via his personal email account and sent the student sexually suggestive messages on TikTok before she blocked him.
Nguyen said it can take time for minors to come forward and emphasized that children should be empowered to report concerns without fear of getting in trouble.
“It never happens overnight. The timeline is actually very typical of grooming,” she said. “It is never your fault. You are not going to be in trouble for speaking out. You do not have the accountability here. The teacher has 100% responsibility and accountability.”
Aldine ISD shared the following statement:
“AlSD immediately initiated an investigation into allegations against a district employee and removed him from the campus by placing him on administrative leave. The District promptly reported the matter to law enforcement, Department of Family Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency. The employee resigned before the conclusion of the investigation, effective December 2025. The district has since been notified that the Harris County DA’s Child Crimes Division accepted charges of Unlawful Restraint of a Child under 17 against the former employee. Aldine ISD does not tolerate any employee who engages in inappropriate behavior. The safety and security of our students remains our highest priority.”
A district spokesperson said Aldine ISD has not located any additional victims.
KPRC 2 News reached out to an attorney who filed to represent Borjas but so far, no response has been received.
Court records appear to indicate Borjas is scheduled to turn himself on the two felony charges on Thursday morning, and KPRC 2 News has reached out the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for more information.