𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥/𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧

                                                       

Julio Ricardo Trujillo

Once again, the trusted walls of a classroom, a place meant for learning, guidance, and safety, have likely been polluted by the repulsive actions of someone who abused his position as teacher and coach to ruin the life of a student.

Former Brownsville ISD teacher and girls’ basketball coach Julio Ricardo Trujillo, 43, is charged with the repulsive crime of having an improper sexual relationship with a student at Rivera Early College High School.

On October 16, Trujillo’s attorney appeared on his behalf for a scheduled hearing. The prosecution and defense agreed to kick the can down the road, resetting the case to November 12 at 8:30 a.m. in the 197th District Court, another delay of justice. 

Trujillo faces three counts of improper relationship between educator and student, each a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He has, unsurprisingly, pleaded not guilty, despite surveillance footage, text messages, and the victim’s testimony. 

Investigators say the incidents began in April 2025, when Trujillo, then employed as a Criminal Justice teacher (oh, the irony!) and girls’ varsity basketball coach, asked a 19-year-old student to meet him in a classroom. Surveillance video allegedly shows Trujillo waiting by the door like a predator. Minutes later, the student walks in, and soon after, she’s seen leaving the classroom, adjusting her blouse.

Trujillo allegedly texted her afterward: “It finally happened, I loved it even if we had to rush lol.” 

The student later told authorities that Trujillo picked her up after Easter and took her to a park for more alleged sexual acts in his car.

He was arrested on May 15, 2025, following an investigation by the Cameron County DA’s Special Investigations Unit and Brownsville ISD Police. He was booked into jail on a $150,000 bond.

The Brownsville Independent School District  promptly terminated Trujillo’s employment, but the damage to the victim, the school, and the profession, is harder to erase. District officials have also confirmed that other employees from Rivera and Hanna Early College High Schools remain under investigation in related cases, suggesting a deeper rot festering where young people should feel safest.

District Attorney Luis V. Saenz didn’t mince words:

“As educators, we entrust teachers with the profound responsibility of guiding and protecting our students. When that trust is violated, we will act swiftly and decisively.”

Let’s hope so. Because every time a teacher like Trujillo crosses that sacred line, it doesn’t just stain one school, it poisons faith in the entire system.

Trujillo had been "certified" to teach since 2014.

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