Teacher Accused of Assaulting 9-Year-Old Student

A local teacher is accused of dragging a 9-year old student on carpet and pulling her up by her hair, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s officials say the mother reported the incident to them. The mother of the young girl told investigators it happened last Wednesday at Canutillo Elementary.

The mother said 49-year-old teacher Jose Gregory Juarez grabbed her daughter’s leg, caused her to fall, dragged her on the carpet, then pulled her up by her ponytails.

Sheriff’s Investigators say the girl had an abrasion in her back, which the mother said was caused by being dragged on the carpet.

We knocked on Juarez’s door. No one answered.

A Canutillo Independent School District Spokeswoman said they reported the incident to Child Protective Services. Sheriff’s officials said the mother and the child went to the Vinton substation to report the alleged abuse.

Juarez has been charged with injury to a child. He’s been with the district for 3 years, taught fourth grade, and is now on paid administrative leave. That’s according to the school district.

One parent we spoke to said this was hard to believe. She said it’s easy to accuse someone of something they didn’t do.

But one resident said she was at the Vinton substation on an unrelated matter and saw the mother and child crying, reporting the incident. She also said she saw the child’s abrasion.

“Her hair was messed up. She looked like she was honest, the little girl. They looked very sad both, and the tears were coming out”, Marcia Gonzalez said.

The Sheriff’s Office continues the investigation.