Marine
01-31-2003, 11:25pm
A fourth-grade teacher at Ysleta Elementary School is one of two El Pasoans arrested last week on suspicion of trying to sell someone else's child, Ysleta Independent School District officials said.
Roberto Cortez, 46, a five-year district employee, has been suspended with pay, school district officials said Tuesday.
Cortez and Alicia Alvarado, 27, who live at the same address in the 7300 block of Dale Road, were arrested Thursday night and charged with selling a child, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to a written statement by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or DPS.
Cortez and Alvarado have been released on $25,000 bail each, FBI officials said.
The FBI and the DPS are investigating the case.
In its statement, the DPS said poor and homeless people are being targeted by such child-selling schemes. "Unfortunately, these people may be coerced into believing their child will be offered a better lifestyle," the DPS said.
"We want to be sure that if anyone knows about the sale of a child, they notify us," said Lucila Torres, spokeswoman for the DPS. "It is definitely illegal."
Torres asked that anyone with information on the case call the DPS, 849-4115, or the FBI, 832-5000.
Leo Benitez, whose nephew attends Ysleta Elementary, said he was shocked that a teacher there was suspected of such a crime.
"There's a fear that you have knowing that the children are going to that school," he said.
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20030129-69999.shtml
Roberto Cortez, 46, a five-year district employee, has been suspended with pay, school district officials said Tuesday.
Cortez and Alicia Alvarado, 27, who live at the same address in the 7300 block of Dale Road, were arrested Thursday night and charged with selling a child, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to a written statement by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or DPS.
Cortez and Alvarado have been released on $25,000 bail each, FBI officials said.
The FBI and the DPS are investigating the case.
In its statement, the DPS said poor and homeless people are being targeted by such child-selling schemes. "Unfortunately, these people may be coerced into believing their child will be offered a better lifestyle," the DPS said.
"We want to be sure that if anyone knows about the sale of a child, they notify us," said Lucila Torres, spokeswoman for the DPS. "It is definitely illegal."
Torres asked that anyone with information on the case call the DPS, 849-4115, or the FBI, 832-5000.
Leo Benitez, whose nephew attends Ysleta Elementary, said he was shocked that a teacher there was suspected of such a crime.
"There's a fear that you have knowing that the children are going to that school," he said.
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20030129-69999.shtml