Parents outraged over allegations of sexual abuse at Farmington school

Video above: 29-year-old Jose Nunez was charged with sexual abuse of a minor after two female students alleged that he sexually assaulted them at Hermosa Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico, “on or about” May 10, 2024. Nunez was employed as a substitute teacher during the alleged incident.

San Juan Adult Detention Center

Farmington Municipal Schools sent families an email about the alleged incident on Wednesday, June 5 – nearly a month later. Parents told KOAT the email did not include the name of the school or any further information about the alleged incident. KOAT obtained a copy of the email from parents who wished to remain anonymous.

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Arrest records show Nunez was taken into custody on May 22, 2024, and released the following day. His court date is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26.

• Criminal sexual contact with a minor (child under 13 years of age)

KOAT has reached out to the Farmington Municipal Schools District. A district spokesperson declined an interview or comment, but said by phone that the following email was sent to FMS families after questions arose about the alleged incident.

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The spokesperson also stated, “We are considering notifying parents in cases where someone has been accused of sexual abuse,” and “typically” they do not notify families and/or parents. After KOAT pressed for detailed answers and clarity, the spokesperson hung up shortly after.

Farmington Municipal Schools email, June 5, 4 p.m.

Note: According to parents, the email was sent to all schools in the district

Subject of the email: Regarding open investigations

Dear FMS families,

Recent public investigations have raised questions in our school community about how the district is handling these cases, and we want to discuss these issues directly with you.

First and foremost, we want you to know that the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff are among our top priorities and we are fully committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all.

We respond quickly and appropriately when we become aware of an incident or allegation involving students or staff. We report the incident to law enforcement, cooperate fully with investigations, and do not interfere in ongoing proceedings. We do not normally comment on open investigations, but we are considering changes in the way we communicate with our families to include reports of staff members accused of sexual abuse.

We understand that these situations may be concerning to 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 ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Farmington Municipal Schools

Statement from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

NMFOG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping citizens, students, educators, public officials, media, and legal professionals understand, acquire, and apply:

• Rights and responsibilities under New Mexico’s Sunshine Laws – the Inspection of Public Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and the Arrest Record Information Act.
• Rights under the Federal Freedom of Information Act.
• First Amendment rights.

KOAT reached out to the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government following the alleged incident at Hermosa Middle School. They sent the following statement:

“In the state of New Mexico, there is no specific legal requirement for public schools to notify parents of their children when a school employee is accused of certain crimes that could endanger children.

However, there is no state law that prohibits schools from notifying parents when a school employee has been arrested and charged with crimes against children. Schools have a moral and ethical obligation to notify parents promptly.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government believes that to promote accountability and transparency, school boards could potentially adopt policies similar to the laws in our neighboring state.

Colorado now has a law that requires schools to notify parents of charges brought against an employee who has contact with students. It’s a list of crimes, including child abuse, violent crimes such as murder or kidnapping, unlawful sexual contact, or sexual assault.”

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