Court documents in the case of former Marfa ISD teacher Rebecca Ontiveros show the district first received word of allegations of an improper relationship with a student in April, months before the School Board voted Aug. 18 to extend her a new contract to teach pre-kindergarten, according to reporting by The Big Bend Sentinel.
A probable cause affidavit tied to search warrants filed in district court stated that “all parties” denied the allegations at the time. Ontiveros, 25, was later arrested Aug. 21 and charged with improper relationship with a student, a second-degree felony. She was booked into the Presidio County Jail and released the next day on a $75,000 bond. Interim Superintendent Arturo Alferez confirmed to The Sentinel that Ontiveros was no longer with the district as of Sept. 3, though it was not clear whether she resigned or was terminated.
Affidavits filed by Texas Ranger Malcolm White described how the student’s grandmother first raised the complaint with Marfa police. Both the student and Ontiveros initially denied the relationship, but the affidavit says Ontiveros later admitted to having sex with the student twice over the summer in her car. She also acknowledged frequent communication with the student on Snapchat, beginning in fall 2024, and said she blocked him Aug. 16.
A juvenile witness told investigators the student and Ontiveros spent time at her residence in Marfa and were seen flirting in public. Warrants signed by 394th District Judge Monty Kimball sought searches of Ontiveros’ Snapchat accounts, iPhone and car. The warrants were issued Aug. 25 and Sept. 2 but were not filed promptly with the Presidio County district clerk as required under state law, delaying public disclosure. When asked by The Sentinel why the records were not filed sooner, Kimball said, “I don’t know.”
The Marfa ISD board met in closed session Sept. 4 to discuss personnel matters and whether Board President Teresa Nuñez, Ontiveros’ mother, should resign from her leadership role. The board took no action. Members are scheduled to meet again Sept. 15 to revisit board roles and responsibilities. Under Texas law, trustees cannot remove another member from the board but can restructure leadership positions.
