CARROLLTON, Texas — A former English as a second language teacher at DeWitt Perry Middle School was arrested on charges of having an inappropriate relationship with students after multiple victims came forward with allegations.
Miguel Caban-Mendez faces charges of improper relationship between an educator and student, indecency with a child sexual contact, and indecent assault, according to arrest warrant affidavits obtained by local media. The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District teacher was arrested by Carrollton police following an investigation that began when a student victim spoke up about his alleged actions. The case highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and educator misconduct in Texas schools, where state law strictly prohibits any inappropriate contact between teachers and students.
The primary victim, a student at DeWitt Perry Middle School, told police that Caban-Mendez would regularly call her out of class during his off periods, sometimes twice per week, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. The student said Caban-Mendez would tell her classroom teacher that he needed her for approximately 20 minutes at a time. During these sessions in his classroom, the victim alleged that Caban-Mendez used lotion to massage her feet. Court documents indicate that his actions escalated beyond the foot massages, though specific details of the more serious allegations were not disclosed in media reports due to the sensitive nature of the crimes. The victim’s decision to speak up prompted the police investigation that led to Caban-Mendez’s arrest and the discovery of additional alleged victims.
Police investigators interviewed three other female students during their investigation, and all reported experiencing at least foot massages from Caban-Mendez, according to the affidavit. The additional victims’ statements corroborated the pattern of behavior described by the primary complainant, strengthening the case against the former educator. Carrollton police confirmed they are actively investigating the matter but declined to provide additional information, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The similarities in the victims’ accounts suggest a systematic pattern of inappropriate behavior rather than isolated incidents. All four students who came forward were enrolled at DeWitt Perry Middle School during the time period when Caban-Mendez worked there as an ESL teacher.
When confronted with the allegations, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District placed Caban-Mendez on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to court documents. However, rather than remain on administrative leave, Caban-Mendez chose to resign from his position with the district. The school district has not disclosed how long Caban-Mendez had been employed there or whether there were any previous complaints about his conduct. Texas education code requires school districts to report suspected inappropriate relationships between educators and students to both law enforcement and the State Board for Educator Certification. The resignation does not prevent criminal prosecution or action by state education officials to revoke his teaching certification.
DeWitt Perry Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch area, located in north Dallas County. The school district issued a statement confirming that the Carrollton Police Department is leading the criminal investigation and that district officials are fully cooperating with law enforcement. Texas has strengthened penalties for educators who engage in inappropriate relationships with students in recent years, following several high-profile cases across the state. Under current Texas law, an improper relationship between an educator and student is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. The charges of indecency with a child and indecent assault carry additional potential penalties, including mandatory registration as a sex offender upon conviction.
Caban-Mendez was being held in the Dallas County Jail at the time of his arrest, with formal charges filed in Dallas County court. The case will likely proceed through the county’s criminal justice system, where prosecutors will present evidence gathered by Carrollton police investigators. Defense attorneys have not yet made public statements about the charges, and it remains unclear whether Caban-Mendez has retained legal counsel. The victims and their families are likely to be key witnesses if the case proceeds to trial, though prosecutors often work to minimize the trauma to young victims through careful handling of testimony and evidence.
The investigation remains active, with Carrollton police continuing to examine whether there may be additional victims or incidents involving the former teacher. School officials have not indicated whether they plan to implement additional safety measures or training programs in response to the case. The charges represent the latest in a series of educator misconduct cases that have prompted calls for enhanced background checks and monitoring systems in Texas schools. Parents and community members are awaiting further developments as the legal process moves forward through the Dallas County court system.
