Former El Paso daycare owner pleads guilty to felony wage theft

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A 43-year-old man who operates a daycare pleaded guilty to felony wage theft after issuing bounced checks, the El Paso County attorney announced Wednesday.

Attorney Christina Sanchez said Antonio Resendiz has been ordered to serve three years of deferred adjudication and pay $2,195.99 after pleading guilty to four counts of felony wage theft involving an employee of Mini-Miracles Day Care and Learning Center. The daycare is in Lower Valley El Paso.

The probation came after a criminal investigation into Resendiz' failure to pay an employee for four pay periods, ending in 2024, the county attorney said.

Sanchez said the employee got several checks that were returned for insufficient funds and reported the unpaid wages to law enforcement.

“Paying workers is not optional. Wage theft is not just a civil matter; it is a crime that strikes at the financial stability of hardworking families, and we will use every legal tool available to ensure justice is served,” said Sanchez.

The El Paso County Attorney's Office said ownership changed at the daycare at the end of 2025. Resendiz was listed as the registered agent for the daycare until November 2025.

Sanchez encourages those who believe they haven't been paid for work in El Paso County should report it to local law enforcement. They may also contact the county attorney's office.