Parents outraged over sex abuse allegations at Farmington school

Video above: Jose Nunez, 29, was charged with criminal sexual contact with a minor after two students alleged he sexually assaulted them at Hermosa Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico, “on or about” May 10, 2024. Nunez was hired. as a substitute teacher during the alleged incident. Farmington City Schools sent families an email on Wednesday, June 5, regarding the alleged incident, nearly a month later. Parents told KOAT the email did not include the name of the school or the context of the alleged incident. KOAT obtained a copy of the email from the parents who chose to remain anonymous. ChargesArrest records show Nunez was taken into custody on May 22, 2024, and released the next day. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday June 26. Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (Child under 13) KOAT contacted the Farmington Municipal School District. A district spokesperson declined an interview as well as a statement, but said by phone that the email below was sent to FMS families after questions were raised regarding the alleged incident. Stay up to date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News. The spokesperson also said: “We envisage that in cases where someone has been accused of sexual abuse, we will notify the parents”, and “they generally do not.” families and/or parents. After KOAT pressed the issue for in-depth and clearer answers, the spokesperson disconnected the line shortly after. Farmington City Schools Email, June 5 at 4 p.m. Note: According to parents, the email was sent to all schools in the district. Email subject: regarding open investigations. Dear FMS Families, Recent open investigations have raised questions within our school communities about how the district is handling these cases and we would like to discuss them directly with you. Above all, please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff are among our top priorities. We are fully committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We act quickly and appropriately when an incident or allegation involving students or staff is brought to our attention. We report to law enforcement, cooperate fully with investigations and do not interfere with ongoing processes. We do not generally comment on open investigations, but we are considering changing our communications with our families to include notifications regarding staff accused of sexual abuse. We understand that these situations may still worry you. We share your concerns and frustrations and are committed to keeping you informed to the best of our ability. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to maintain a safe environment for everyone. Farmington City SchoolsStatement from the New Mexico Foundation for Open GovernmentNMFOG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to helping citizens, students, educators, public officials, media and health professionals Right to Understand, Obtain and Exercise: The rights and responsibilities under New Mexico's “Sunshine Laws” – the Inspection of Public Records Act, the Open Meetings Act and Arrest. Recorded Information Act. Rights under the federal Freedom of Information Act. First Amendment rights. KOAT contacted the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government following the alleged incident at the school Intermediate Hermosa. They sent the following statement below: “The State of New Mexico has no specific legal requirement for public schools to notify parents of school children when a school employee is accused of certain crimes that may putting children in danger However, there is no state law that says schools cannot tell parents if a school employee has been arrested and charged with crimes against children. moral and ethical to notify parents immediately The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government believes that this is intended to promote accountability and accountability, perhaps school officials could adopt policies that reflect the. laws in our neighboring state Colorado now has a law that requires schools to notify parents of charges against an employee who has contact with students for a list of criminal offenses, including child abuse, felonies. violence. such as murder or kidnapping, unlawful sexual contact or sexual assault. Stay informed about the latest updates with the KOAT app. You can download it here.