Teacher found guilty of sexual crimes against children
District Attorney released a statement to the media today announcing the conviction of Taureaus Alvaro Maxwell Jr. (DOB: 11/25/1992. Unfortunately, the paper had already gone to press so we only announced the conviction of Maxwell. We will be doing a more thorough investigation and will be running a follow-up story(s) in the coming weeks.
In the release from Shelton, it was announced that “on Friday, August 2, 2024, a Cass County jury convicted Taureaus Alvaro Maxwell, 31, a former teacher and coach at Atlanta Independent School District, of four counts of Indecency with a Child by Contact and four counts of Improper Relationship between Educator and Student. After conviction, additional evidence was presented, and the jury assessed the maximum sentence of 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division, along with a $10,000 fine, on each charge.
The case was tried by Cass County Criminal District Attorney, Courtney Shelton, and First Assistant District Attorney, Nick Ross. Taureaus Maxwell was represented by Texarkana attorney, Josh Potter, and Fayetteville attorney, Brandon Pickett. Maxwell was originally charged with five counts of Indecency with a Child by Contact, five counts of Improper Relationship between Educator and Students, and three counts of Online Solicitation of a Minor.
“The evidence showed that on April 10, 2023, two students of Atlanta High School, Josh Cattron (pseudonym) and David Clark (pseudonym) outcried to school administration about sexual abuse and online solicitation by Taureaus Maxwell, a teacher and coach at the school.
“David Clark (pseudonym) testified that he was in Maxwell’s class, and at some point, Maxwell requested that he add him on Snapchat, a social media app known for deleting messages. Clark stated that he and Maxwell sent multiple “snaps” throughout the year. Clark testified that some of those snaps from Maxwell solicited inappropriate photos, stating things such as “Take those clothes off” and “I want videos of the ones when you’re out of the shower.”
“Josh Cattron (pseudonym) testified that Maxwell had touched him on his genitals in the classroom, while he was sitting by Maxwell’s desk at the back of the class. Another student, Jack Williams (pseudonym), also reported that Maxwell had grabbed his genitals in between classes in the doorway of one of the buildings. Williams additionally stated that Maxwell had requested pictures of his genitals via Snapchat. A fourth student, Robert Poole (pseudonym), stated Maxwell had requested pictures of his genitals via Snapchat as well.
“Judie Townsend, a Special Investigator with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), testified that she was involved in the case as part of a Texas Education Agency investigation. Townsend became involved on April 13, 2023, and was advised that Atlanta ISD School Resource Officers had already concluded their investigation, finding that no probable cause existed to make an arrest.
“Townsend testified that she was seriously concerned because neither Maxwell’s nor the students’ Snapchat records had been preserved and/or requested, Maxwell’s cell phone had not been seized to search for evidence, Maxwell had not been interviewed, and it appeared to her that the officers believed the children were lying, although no evidence was provided suggesting any motive for them to do so.
“It was also discovered during testimony that the Snapchat photos given to Townsend from David Clark’s (pseudonym) cell phone were illegible black and white copies. She was never provided with the color copies that David Clark (pseudonym) gave to the school resource officer (although Clark’s color copies were presented at trial). Townsend’s concerns were presented to Superintendent Jason Harris, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was asked to take over the investigation.
“Sabrina Sartor, an investigator with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, testified that she was requested to assist DFPS with the investigation on April 14, 2024. Sartor testified that when she took over the investigation, her first step was to watch the forensic interviews of David Clark (pseudonym), Josh Cattron (pseudonym), and Jack Williams (pseudonym). After watching the interviews, Sartor discovered there were multiple other possible witnesses and/or victims, and she immediately set up seven more forensic interviews, which were conducted over the next few days.
“Sartor also preserved Snapchat accounts of David Clark (pseudonym), Josh Cattron (pseudonym), Jack Williams (pseudonym), Taureaus Maxwell, and several other students, in an effort to preserve any evidence that was still available. During trial, however, evidence was presented showing that Maxwell had been actively deleting Snapchat records for eight days prior to his records being preserved by Sartor. It was also shown that in the three days following his expulsion from campus, Maxwell deleted 53 possible students from Snapchat.
“Other witnesses included a forensic interviewer from the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center, counselors for both David Clark (pseudonym) and Josh Cattron (pseudonym) from the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center, Jack Williams (pseudonym), Robert Poole (pseudonym), and students from Atlanta High School.
The jury deliberated around nine hours on the thirteen charges, and they ultimately found him guilty on eight charges.
At punishment, the State presented evidence that Taureaus Maxwell had been previously employed as a probation officer for Bowie County Community Supervision Office in 2021. During that time, Maxwell received three complaints regarding sexually inappropriate behavior. After those complaints, Maxwell was placed on restrictions and was not allowed to conduct urinalysis testing. Testimony from a Bowie County
supervisor showed that Maxwell continued conducting urinalysis testing, against direct orders not to do so. There was also testimony that Maxwell required a probationer to complete a urinalysis in a field behind a tree, against office policy. He was terminated from his job in June 2021.
The State presented additional evidence that Maxwell lied on his employment application to Atlanta ISD to gain employment. When asked, “Have you ever been involuntarily terminated, notified of proposed termination, non-renewed, notified of proposed non-renewal, asked to resign from, or not reemployed by any employer,” Maxwell answered, “No.” Jason Harris, Superintendent of Atlanta ISD, indicated Maxwell never would have been hired if he had known of Maxwell’s previous termination and the reasons for it.
After about one hour, the jury handed down the maximum sentence on each charge, twenty years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a $10,000 fine on each charge. The 5th District Judge Bill Miller ordered that three of the twenty-year sentences in his Indecency with a Child cases were to run consecutively, meaning that Maxwell could not start serving his second sentence until his first sentence was completed, and he could not start serving his third sentence until his second sentence was completed.
Judge Miller ordered his sentence in his fourth Indecency with a Child case to run concurrently with his third sentence. A person convicted of Indecency with a Child is not eligible for parole until he has served at least one-half of the sentence. Maxwell’s four Improper Relationship between an Educator and Student charges were ordered to run concurrently with each other and with the first Indecency with a child charge.
“This case would have never been brought to light if it hadn’t been for the persistence of CPS Special Investigator Judie Townsend. We are extremely grateful for her tenacity and courage in stepping up to protect the students of Atlanta High School,” said Cass County Criminal District Attorney Courtney Shelton. “We are also thankful to Investigator Sabrina Sartor with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office for her willingness to step into this investigation late in the process and preserve as much evidence as possible. Additionally, we are appreciative of the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center for their assistance in this case.
“They gave these boys the courage to stand up against a true predator, and without them, these boys never would have had a voice. We are particularly proud of these boys for coming forward – despite the negative reactions from some in the community. And I am eternally grateful to the Cass County jurors who listened carefully to the facts and evidence presented. They sent a clear message with their verdict that sexual abuse in our schools will NOT be tolerated.”
END OF RELEASE
In April of 2023 Superintendent of Atlanta ISD, Jason Harris, sent out a letter to parents informing them that a teacher and coach that worked for the district had been arrested. The following morning the Cass County Sheriff’s Department released a statement and a mugshot listing the suspect as 30-year-old Taureaus Alvaro Maxwell Jr.
The press release from the Sheriff’s Department said that “on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Taureaus Alvaro Maxwell Jr. (DOB: 11/25/1992) was arrested by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on multiple warrants for Indecency with a Child (Second Degree Felony), Online Solicitation of a Child (Third Degree Felony}, and Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student (Second Degree Felony).”
“Maxwell Jr. was employed as a teacher and a coach by the Atlanta Independent School District and worked at the Atlanta High School and Atlanta Middle School at the time the allegations were made. Bonds will be set by Justice Peace PCT 1 Barbara McMillon.”
The Journal-Sun was able to confirm with Atlanta ISD at the time of the arrest that he was hired in March 2022, and placed on leave on April 10. “All potential employees must pass a comprehensive criminal background check as required by law. Additionally, we consult the Texas Education Agency's Do Not Hire Registry and check applicant references.”
Publishers Note: This is a fast-moving story, and we hope to get more information. Please see the August 14, newspaper for more information. Additionally, we broke up the initial release paragraphs to make the story more readable, but the content is complete.
Nicholas Ross, First Assistant District Attorney; Hagan Allen, Chief Criminal Investigator; Mason Blaylock, Assistant District Attorney; and Jason Stubbs, Criminal Investigator were also named in the in the press release.