Evins superintendent suspended for possible wrongdoing
AUSTIN — Superintendents at an Edinburg youth prison and Harlingen halfway house have been suspended with pay pending investigation of wrongdoing, the Texas Youth Commission announced Monday.
Eduardo Martinez, who took over as superintendent of Evins Regional Juvenile Center on May 1, leaves amid accusations that he failed to follow TYC policy that requires him to notify law enforcement and parents of a sexual assault allegation, according to TYC officials.
Martinez is being investigated for events that took place while he was superintendent at Giddings State School, not at Evins, said TYC spokesman Jim Hurley.
Debra Dick, superintendent of Edna Tamayo Halfway House in Harlingen, was also suspended pending an investigation of alleged inappropriate use of state resources, according to TYC officials.
Melody Vidaurri, the Austin-based director of security for TYC, will take Martinez’s place at Evins, Hurley said. She becomes the third superintendent in less than one month to lead Evins, where U.S. Department of Justice investigators have said youth are housed in conditions that violate the Constitution.
Martinez was sent to Evins after the previous superintendent, Bart Caldwell, was placed on leave April 27 while TYC officials begin what they call “pre-termination proceedings” against him. It is not clear why he is being fired, and Caldwell has refused to comment.
The latest actions bring to 93 the number of people arrested, suspended, fired or who are in the process of being fired since Conservator Jay Kimbrough took over the troubled agency in March amid a sexual abuse scandal.
“Both administrative and criminal investigations are ongoing,” Hurley said.
Also suspended on Monday was Blu Nicholson, assistant superintendent at Crockett State School, for allegations of mistreatment of youth.
Lisa Cook, superintendent of McFadden Ranch in Roanoke, was suspended for allegedly interfering with the reporting and investigations of incidents.
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Elizabeth Hernandez covers the state capital for Valley Freedom Newspapers. She is based in Austin and can be reached at (512) 323-0622. For this and more local stories, visit www.themonitor.com
