Local teacher accused of groping students

EDINBURG -- A local high school teacher accused of repeatedly groping two female students faced four felony charges Wednesday after a three-month investigation into his alleged conduct.

Nelson Galloso, 47, is suspected of making sexual advances toward the 15- and 17-year-old girls while he was the physical education teacher at the South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy at 510 S. Sugar Road in Edinburg, according to court records.

School officials placed Galloso on leave in the spring after the girls complained he repeatedly fondled them and encouraged one of the teens to bring a bikini for an overnight field trip for which he forged her father's signature on a permission form. Texas Child Protective Services investigated the incident and eventually contacted the Edinburg Police Department.

"Galloso would hug her from behind grabbing her waist and would sit her on his front lap refusing to let go," court records state.

He has denied the charges but admitted to the school's principal, Maggie Gutierrez, that he did forge the father's signature for the field trip permission slip, according to the court documents.

Galloso faces four counts of an improper relationship between an educator and student, a second-degree felony. If convicted he faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible fine up to $10,000 for each count.

He remained in the Hidalgo County Jail on Wednesday evening in lieu of a $40,000 bond.

Galloso's family could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A woman who answered the phone at his Mission residence said no family members were home.

Administrators at the school, which is part of the South Texas Independent School District, could not be reached after 5 p.m. Wednesday to comment on the matter or confirm Galloso's current employment status with the school district.

However, school officials have cooperated with the investigation, according to court records.

Along with Galloso's teaching duties at BETA, he also was the school's yearbook adviser and was a sponsor of both the Fellowship for Christian Athletes and the Physical Education Club, according to court records and the school newspaper, Beta Buzz.

Galloso often contacted his alleged victims after school, calling the girls' cell phones and sending messages to them via MySpace, the social networking Web site, court records state.

CPS spokesman John Lennan confirmed his agency investigated Galloso but said he could not release details of the case, citing department policy.

Galloso is currently under review by the State Board for Educator Certification's Professional Discipline Unit, according to that board's Web site.

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La Frontera staff writer Martha Leticia Hernandez contributed to the story.

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Sean Gaffney covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.