High School Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault Of Child

AUSTIN, TEXAS — A teacher from Bowie High School has been placed on administrative leave for alleged sexual assault of a child, according to police.

Erica Dinora Gomez, 23, faces two second-degree felonies with bond set at $20,000 each — sexual assault of a child and inappropriate relationship between educator and student — for allegedly entering into a relationship with a 15-year-old boy, according to police. At a press briefing, police said the relationship began when the woman was a student teacher at Bowie High School where she was re-hired as a math teacher after having left the position previously.

Gomez is said to have engaged in sex with the boy a handful of times beginning in October 2017. Police stressed it appears the relationship was an isolated incident, and no other students are believed to have been victimized. Police said the relationship was uncovered after the boy's mother reported inappropriate messages between the student and teacher, evidence that compelled the teacher to confess.

School officials staged a meeting with parents in the high school auditorium to discuss the matter at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

The police officer at the press briefing said Gomez was still behind bars as of Tuesday.

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>>> Erica Dinora Gomez booking photo provided by Austin Police Department