LEAGUE CITY, Texas – A Clear Creek Independent School District teacher is facing charges of abuse.
Court documents show that Oscar Perez is accused of molesting a girl in the third grade.
Perez, an instructional math coach at McWhirter Elementary School, was arrested Friday.
He is charged with continued sexual abuse of a child.
The girl only recently told her parents about what happened and they contacted police.
The Galveston County Sheriff's Office arrested Perez, 44, on Friday and he bonded out of jail Tuesday.
The victim told investigators the abuse happened during what were supposed to be tutoring sessions for the STAAR test.
The Sheriff's Office said they have copies of emails Perez sent to the girl's parents asking permission for her to stay after school twice a week. But the girl said instead Perez would touch her inappropriately.
Clear Creek Independent School District released the following statement:
"In the Clear Creek Independent School District, we are committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students. As soon as the district was notified of the student’s complaint on April 28, the teacher was put on leave and has not returned. The district has cooperated fully with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and will continue to do so," CCISD spokesperson Elaina Polsen said.
Detectives say they reviewed Perez's CCISD personnel file and found a February 2016 complaint by a current student who claimed Perez rubbed her leg during an exam and made her feel uncomfortable. CCISD put Perez on leave during their investigation but in the end said they found no reason to discipline him.
Perez's attorney told Channel 2 News his client denies the charges.
"It didn't happen. He's stunned anyone would make an allegation like this against him and completely baffled by it," Chris Tritico said.
Neighbors said they trusted Perez with their own kids and were shocked by the allegations.
"I can't believe this I can't believe he'd do anything like this with any of the kids," said Marina Abusada.
Perez is free on a $40,000 bond. He is due back in court next month.