AUSTIN, TX – An Austin ISD elementary school teacher has been dismissed and faces a felony charge following an incident involving a six-year-old student at Reilly Elementary School.
Court documents indicate that on September 10, first-grade teacher Luis Erasmo Resendiz Alvarado allegedly pressed the child against a wall using the classroom door and his body weight, leading to a state jail felony charge of unlawful restraint.
The case typically constitutes a misdemeanor unless it involves young children or peace officers, said an Austin criminal defense attorney unaffiliated with the case.
The incident was reported after the child informed their parent, who then approached the school’s assistant principal and filed a report with Austin ISD police. Alvarado was placed on administrative leave as the district initiated an investigation. During this process, he reportedly confessed, stating, “I kept, I kept him trapped,” and surveillance footage from a hallway camera corroborated his admission.
On October 1, Alvarado was taken into custody but released the same day on a $7,500 bond. Attorney assessments suggest the combination of video evidence and Alvarado’s confession strengthened the prosecution’s case, leading to the felony charge.
Austin ISD informed parents of both the arrest and termination of the teacher in a letter emphasizing student safety on campus and transparency regarding the unlawful restraint charge.
Legal experts note that while the charge carries a potential two-year state jail sentence, those without a prior criminal record, like Alvarado, often receive probation.
The district has encouraged parents to engage with their children about the incident and assured them of the availability of school counselors for support and guidance.