Archdiocese Knew of Allegations against Art Teacher

KOAT
February 10, 2016

http://www.koat.com/news/archdiocese-knew-of-allegations-against-art-teacher/37909142

[with video]

Deputies recently served a search warrant at the Archdiocese of Santa Fe as part of an investigation involving an art teacher arrested after being accused of sexually touching young female students.

Another search warrant was served at Santo Nino Catholic School, where Aaron Chavez, 47, worked.

Deputies were able to retrieve a laptop, SD cards and personnel files to assist in the investigation, documents show. Chavez currently faces five charges for inappropriately touching students.

According to court records, one of the victim's parents reported the alleged abuse to the archdiocese nearly four years ago. Those records show the archdiocese did its own investigation, but concluded the allegation was unsubstantiated.

Now the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office is looking at the archdiocese's protocol about disclosing allegations of child abuse and sexual misconduct.

No one at Santo Nino Catholic School would comment. The archdiocese said it was, and continues to be, cooperative with the investigation.

As for Chavez, he's free on bail.