HOUSTON – A Spring Independent School District elementary school teacher is accused of inappropriately touching two 10-year-old girls on multiple occasions, including at a Christmas party, according to documents filed in court.
Danilo Martinez, 47, is a third-grade bilingual teacher at Ralph Eikenroht Elementary School.
On Dec. 18, school principal, Robbie Green notified officials of allegations against Martinez. Court records show Martinez is accused of hugging two students, rubbing against them and touching them inappropriately. Both girls said the alleged acts happened on multiple occasions, including during their Christmas party.
Martinez faces two felony charges of indecency with a child.
“As soon as the school and district were made aware of the allegation in December, Martinez was immediately removed from the classroom, and his students’ parents were notified," Spring ISD officials wrote in a statement to KPRC 2. “Martinez has been suspended without pay and recommended for termination.”
Parents were disturbed by the allegations.
“That makes me very concerned," said parent Vilvia Haskie. “Especially when you have little kids.”
“Well, it was shocking," said Ruben Maldonado, another parent. “It’s the kind of thing that you would read about in the news elsewhere.”
However, parents commended the district for alerting parents soon, keeping them informed and removing the teacher from school.
“[I felt] a lot of relief because I always tell my child, if anything is happening, you need to make sure that you let somebody know right off the bat...don’t let it slide,” Haskie said.
Martinez was arrested and has since been released on bond.
SPRING ISD STATEMENT:
Following an investigation by the Spring ISD Police, Danilo Martinez, a third-grade bilingual teacher at Eickenroht Elementary School, has been arrested, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office has accepted charges of two felony counts of indecency with a child. As soon as the school and district were made aware of the allegation in December, Martinez was immediately removed from the classroom, and his students' parents were notified. Martinez has been suspended without pay and recommended for termination.
The safety of our students is our highest priority. We are extremely concerned that a charge of this nature has been brought against a teacher in the district.
We ask any families in our district who have information, which might help our Spring ISD Police Department with further investigation, to please call 281-891-6911.