Saturday, September 7, 2024
AZLE — Former Azle ISD teacher Christina Starnes pleaded guilty to a charge of improper relationship between an educator and student Friday, April 26. Starnes, 40, was sentenced to serve two years in a state penitentiary for the second-degree felony charge. She was immediately taken into custody.
Starnes was initially arrested by Tarrant County Sheriff’s officers Feb. 23, 2021, and charged with sexual assault of a minor, improper relationship between an educator and student, and indecency with a child with sexual contact. Starnes satisfied the conditions of her $10,000 bond and was released from the Tarrant County jail the following day. The charges of indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child were waived as a part of the April 26 plea bargain.
When asked for comment, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office responded, “this plea agreement ensures that Christina Starnes will be held accountable with a prison sentence for this crime.”
Starnes was formerly a substitute teacher at Keller ISD and began teaching in Azle in 2016 as a special education teacher at Santo J. Forte Junior High. During her first year with the district, she was named Teacher of the Year; she also received a $1,000 grant from the Azle Education Foundation.
Starnes was accused of having oral sex with a minor in the back of her car Jan. 27, 2021.
According to an article that appeared in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, a family member of the student met with district Superintendent Todd Smith after the student returned home later than expected and was not acting like himself. After looking through his phone, the student’s family found text messages between him and his special education teacher, Starnes. The student told family members Starnes let him drive her car and that she also kissed him and touched his genitals.
Azle ISD placed Starnes on administrative leave and notified local law enforcement.
In a statement at the time, the district said, “Azle ISD takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, and the protection and well-being of our students is a top priority. The district acted swiftly upon reports of misconduct by an employee.”
According to an arrest affidavit, Starnes informed a friend about her administrative leave and admitted she had given a student oral sex. Starnes’ friend informed an Azle ISD teacher of the confession, who brought the matter to Azle ISD Police Chief Darren Brockway. Shortly thereafter, Tarrant County Detective Michael Weber began an investigation into the allegations.
After speaking with the detective, the student described the incident in which Starnes was driving on Liberty School Road with him in the back seat of her car. Starnes then pulled over and began touching the student inappropriately. The student told Weber that Starnes attempted to perform oral sex on him until he told her to stop, and Starnes drove him home. The student later identified the location where the incident occurred to investigators. Starnes officially resigned from the district Feb. 2, 2021.
Azle ISD’s communications department declined to comment on Starnes recent guilty plea.
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, roughly 60,000 students are victims of sexual abuse each year. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted and every nine minutes, that victim is a child. Sexual abuse survivors can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 for assistance or chat confidentially with a trained staff member online at rainn.org. Crisis Text Line counselors are also available by texting HOME to 741741 and local organizations such as Future, Hope and Healing, Freedom House and Alliance for Children offer a wide swath of resources for victims.
