Former Las Cruces teacher pleads guilty to child solicitation

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) -- Wyatt Cornelius, a former middle school teacher and coach, pleaded guilty to child solicitation Monday afternoon. 

The Dona Ana County District Attorney announced Cornelius pleaded guilty to child solicitation by electronic device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The change of plea hearing was held in Judge Richard M. Jacquez courtroom. 

Cornelius was a teacher and coach at Camino Real Middle School is Las Cruces. Las Cruces Public Schools hired him on July 1, 2006, and terminated him on May 22, 2026.

Authorities arrested Cornelius on April 22 after a teenage student reported an improper relationship with him. He was charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor, child solicitation by an electronic device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. 

In July, two additional counts of criminal sexual contact were added after a second teenage victim came forward. The abuse happened between September 2025 and February 2026.

A judge denied bond or release due to the severity of the charges. Cornelius has been at the Dona Ana County Detention Center since his arrest. 

His jury trial had been scheduled to begin in November, prior to today's plea hearing.