January 7th, 2011
Former teacher’s aide charged with sexually abusing child

by SEAN KIMMONS

A former Hays CISD teacher’s aide who allegedly exposed himself to young children in his care and touched one of them sexually at Buda Elementary School has been charged with three felony counts of indecency with a child.

LEE

Kevin Jason Lee, 27, of Buda, was arrested Dec. 16 and released from Hays County Jail on Jan. 3 after he posted bonds worth up to $75,000, court records state.

He also faces three counts of displaying harmful material to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor, for showing pornographic material on his cell phone to two girls aged 3 and 4 years old, an arrest warrant affidavit states. The acts of sexual abuse allegedly occurred in September, the same month they were reported.

Lee had served as a teacher’s aide for seven years at the school’s Early Learning Center, a childcare facility that serves about 50 children of Hays school district employees. He resigned the day after he was put on administrative leave when one of the children’s mothers reported the alleged abuse to school officials.

“We received the allegations late in the workday and the next morning he was removed from the classroom,” Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Lyon said Friday.

Lyon said that the district’s 10 daycare centers have had a “good record” since the Early Learning Center opened 10 years ago.

“In the history of operating daycares in the district, this is the first incident close to this that I’m aware of,” he said.

Before he began work, Lee also passed two criminal background checks as part of the district’s employment process, Lyon said.

Lee admitted to investigators that he showed pornographic videos that he downloaded onto his cell phone to children on two separate occasions, Hays County Sheriff’s Office Det. Lenny Martinez said in the arrest affidavit.

“Mr. Lee explained that he felt that he was providing education, however he knows that it was wrong and he should not have done it,” the affidavit states.

He also told investigators that he exposed himself to three children in the restroom of a portable building on school grounds. One of the children later informed police that Lee had also touched her on the buttocks and genitals, the affidavit states. Lee is also charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, after deputies discovered the drug on him when they arrested him last month, authorities say.

His Austin-based attorney, Florencia Rueda, declined to comment.