Parents react to aide’s pornography arrest

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) -  

Parents from Montezuma Elementary are still reeling from the news that a Kindergarten aide at the school was arrested for child pornography charges.

APS is urging parents to contact the Sherriff’s investigators if they have any concerns on the case.

APS sent home a letter to parents today about the case – and on Friday they posted a notice on the APS website about the employee, but parents say they wish they had been notified directly. 

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“A Note from APS Leadership

Albuquerque Public Schools learned late Friday afternoon of the arrest of an educational assistant at Montezuma Elementary School. The employee has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of a police investigation that involves charges of manufacturing and distribution of child pornography.

APS takes allegations like this seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement in this investigation. At this point, we have no further information, but the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has asked that anyone with information regarding this case should contact detectives at 505-314-0135.

As soon as the district learns more, information will be passed along to parents and the school community.”

source: http://www.aps.edu/

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APS says they weren’t notified on the arrest until it happened.

 “If there's a situation that ever called for some sort of immediate notification to parents, this would be it,” said parent Adam Aguirre. “I'm not sure that there could be something more tragic, concerning or frightening than this.”

Today, the District sent a letter to Montezuma parents saying, “At this point there are no allegations that any of the inappropriate photographs involved students at the school.”

“It's not just disturbing; it's heartbreaking,” said Albuquerque Public Schools spokesperson Monica Armenta. “There's a lot to consider here. We're trying to give parents a lot of information to be as transparent as possible, but this is a criminal investigation.”

APS says that right now, the only connection they know of between the case and Montezuma is that Gonzales is employed there.

But questions still linger, like how much one-on-one time Gonzales may have had with students.

“Education assistants work in the classroom with the teacher,” Armenta said. “BCSO has not asked those questions, so I don't know that's a concern of there's - but we're working closely with them.”

The district placed Gonzales on paid administrative leave.

APS says she could be fired even before a criminal trial if the District determines the charges are credible.

Carey Gonzales’ husband Fred was the president of the New Mexico Young America Football League.

YAFL officially took away his title on Saturday and also sent a letter home to parents.