Volunteer teacher accused by Las Cruces PD of having sexual relationship with student

A volunteer art teacher at a Las Cruces Catholic school is accused by law enforcement of having a sexual relationship with a student.

Gary Vau Jr., 31, has been charged with criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Las Cruces Police say Vau had a relationship with a 17-year old at St. Mary’s Catholic High School.

The alleged sexual acts happened on campus, according to the criminal complaint.

“Even though for all purposes, the relationship was deemed consensual, it cannot be because anybody who’s a school official or an employee or a volunteer at the school, cannot have any sexual relationship with a student,” said Las Cruces Police spokesman Dan Trujillo. “That’s according to New Mexico law.”