El Paso High Student Arrested By Federal Agents Is Accomplished Violinist

New details are emerging in the case of an 18-year-old West El Pasoan arrested on child pornography charges.

The El Paso Independent School District confirmed Thursday that El Paso High senior Armando Garcia, who was booked into jail Tuesday, is an accomplished violinist.

EPISD’s website shows Garcia was one of 15 students in the district who earned All-State honors for his performances in 2011 and is featured as a soloist in a YouTube performance of the El Paso High orchestra.

Agents with Homeland Security Investigations served a federal search warrant at Garcia’s home and arrested him. Investigators have not revealed the exact nature or extent of the child pornography allegations.

Jail records show Garcia is being held for the “recepit and distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of children/minors.”

ABC-7 went to Garcia’s school to learn more about him.

“This is a young man who is so accompilshed. He is so focused and so talented that what you’re telling me is impossible,” said Linda Troncoso, who is a substitute teacher at El Paso High and heads its alumni association.

“I’m sorry, (the allegations against Garcia) couldn’t have happened and you couldn’t make me believe it,” said Troncoso. “He is very shy and quiet in the classroom, but he is accomplished in his studies just as he is focused on his music.”