HOUSTON – A warrant has been issued for a former middle school employee accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl.
One of the last times anyone saw 40-year-old Mauricio Mendoza was in court last month, when he was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child.
His bail bondsman at Space City Bonds said he posted the $50,000 bond, then disappeared.
"Right now he's on the run," Space City Bonds owner George Salais said. "His house is currently for sale. He shut down two of his phone numbers. And we believe he might be in the area, or even worse, he might have crossed over to Mexico already."
No one answered the door at Mendoza’s home in southeast Houston Thursday afternoon. Court records show that Mendoza violated conditions of his bond on March 31.
He was supposed to be back in court on May 4. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
"He's a perfect man. Perfect husband. Perfect family man. We never suspected him. We were shocked. We are still shocked,” said a neighbor of 13 years, who asked that his identity not be revealed. He said he had not seen Mendoza recently.
But he said he had seen relatives moving out of the house that he said is now for sale. "Just family members coming to get their stuff out of the house," he said. "That's it."
Mendoza was an information technology employee at Hartman Middle School until the accusations surfaced in December. Prosecutors said he and the girl had sex in his office and in the school library. After the girl made allegations against Mendoza, she tested positive for pregnancy.
Investigators said the 13-year-old girl is pregnant with Mendoza’s child.
Mendoza no longer works for HISD.