A high school physics teacher has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual activities with a student in his classroom, following a report by another student who witnessed them together, authorities say.
Chad Allen Rodriguez, a 38-year-old physics and astronomy teacher in Texas, could face up to 20 years in prison after being charged on Saturday with a second-degree felony for having sexual relations with a 17-year-old female student.
Rodriguez, who also serves as a football and track coach at Jay High School in San Antonio, reportedly began flirting with the student after their initial meeting last October, according to WOAI.
Authorities report that the two began exchanging explicit videos and images before meeting in the classroom for sexual encounters.
The illicit meetings came to light last Thursday when another student saw them alone in the classroom, according to court documents, which did not specify what the student witnessed that prompted suspicion.
After being seen, the girl left and later informed the police about the sexual relationship with the teacher, as stated in the court documents.
Rodriguez has been placed on leave from the school, where he had been employed for a decade. The school district has stated it is “cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
Rodriguez faces charges of having an improper relationship between an educator and student, which is a second-degree felony. In Texas, the age of consent is 17.
