Viva El Paso Says Choreographer Charged In Child Porn Case Was Not Involved In Its Youth Camps

The current board of directors and staff of the El Paso Association for the Performing Arts, which puts on Viva El Paso!, said on Monday that its principal choreographer charged in a federal child pornography case did not participate its camps for children.

Marco Alferez, a teacher at Irvin High School, was charged last month with possessing child pornography.

He has worked with Viva El Paso! from 2004 through this year as a performer and as the principal choreographer. As a seasonal employee, Alferez had to reapply each season for the job.

Robert Andrade, executive director for the El Paso Association for the Performing Arts, said Alferez will not be asked to reapply for the job. He said the organization was already discussing not bringing Alferez back for an unrelated reason prior to Alferez being charged with possessing child pornography.

Alferez told the UTEP newspaper, The Prospector, in 2008 that he began his career with Viva El Paso as a volunteer program vendor at the age of 15 and eventually climbed his way up to choreographer.

“The El Paso Association for the Performing Arts is and always has been concerned for the well-being and safety of all of its cast members and has made it our top priority and we will be fully cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation,” the group said in its statement.

During a bond hearing in federal court on Wednesday, prosecutors said Alferez made child pornography in his own home and they claimed there may be as many as 70 local victims. Alferez was denied bond.

ABC-7 learned a new warrant was issued for Alferez with a charge of “sexual performance of a minor.” Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents said the charge stems from the alleged ‘homemade’ child pornography found in Alferez’s home. In one video, investigators said Alferez is seen setting up a hidden camera in his bedroom and later raping a young girl.

Alferez has not been booked on the new charge as of Monday.

Alferez has taught at Irvin High School since Aug. 2008 and other schools in the El Paso and Ysleta school districts since 2003.

The El Paso Independent School District’s board of trustees will discuss firing Alferez at a special meeting on Tuesday.

Read about Alferez’s other places of employment here.