Court documents claim former HISD teacher sexually abused student

HOUSTON – A former Tanglewood Middle School teacher is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student and sexually abusing her, court documents show.

Dale Lamar Vanwright, 63, was charged with sexual conduct by a child, inappropriate relationship between teacher and student and indecent exposure to a child.

According to court documents, Vanwright drove the girl home several times and at some point in the evening began talking to her via video call. The girl told police that during one of those calls in February, he asked her to “show him her breast.” Court documents also say Vanwright “explained to her how to pleasure herself … while he watched.”

She said he did this from his living room and told her he would hang up immediately if his wife entered the room. According to the documents, he repeatedly asked her to expose herself in front of him during the video call.

While driving the girl home on May 8, Vanwright reportedly pulled into an empty parking lot, reclined his seat and asked her to sit on his lap. She told police that during that incident, Vanwright sexually assaulted her while she repeatedly asked him to stop.

The documents say Vanwright admitted to talking to the girl on the phone but denied the incident in the parking lot. He had already been suspended by the school district in March when he was accused of hugging and kissing another 14-year-old student, the indictment says.

A judge set his bail at $50,000 on each count, for a total of $150,000. If he pays bail, he cannot come within 200 feet of the victim and his school. The judge said he cannot have contact with children under 17 and cannot live near a place where children congregate. He will also be ordered to surrender his passport.

At his probable cause hearing, his court-appointed attorney said Vanwright taught technology design at the school. The attorney said he has been a teacher for 34 years but had to file for bankruptcy after losing his job.

We have reached out to Houston ISD for comment on the charges and more information on Vanwright’s employment status.