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8 students come forward after former HISD teacher charged with sexual abuse, records say

The victims, as young as 8 years old, said they were touched inappropriately by Manuel Edgardo Ponce.

HOUSTON — Eight students came forward after a former HISD teacher accused of sexually assaulting children was officially charged, according to court documents.

Records show Manuel Edgardo Ponce, 45, is facing five charges: three counts of continued sex abuse of a child, one count of indecency with a child and one count of indecent exposure.

Ponce, a former Sutton Elementary School teacher, appeared in front of a judge Monday.

Court records said in February 2020 he unbuttoned one of his former 2nd-grade student's pants and looked down to see her private parts.

According to court records, the girl came forward after a teacher approached her about being in Ponce's class when she was younger. The girl, who is now in 5th grade, told the teacher he would tell the other students to take a restroom break and asked her to stay behind so he can look at her private parts, records say.

The girl said this would happen almost every day in school.

READ: Former HISD elementary school teacher charged, accused of sexually abusing children 

In court Monday, the state prosecutor said other students who were in Ponce's classroom during the 2021 to 2022 school year shared a very similar story.

Some of the victims, as young as 8 years old, said Ponce touched them inappropriately in their private areas, records said.

Ponce's attorney said she believes her client is innocent and plans on protecting his innocence.

"There's a lot of trouble, apparently, with the DA's case, at least at this point," Attorney Mary Conn said.

Ponce has been released from jail on a $200,000 bond and won't be due back in court until his trial unless he violates his bond agreements.

According to Houston ISD, he resigned in July 2022.

Child Protective Services also said they were investigating the situation.

How to talk to your children 

Dr. Whitney Crowson, a clinical psychologist with the Children’s Assessment Center, says empowering children to fight abuse begins when they’re still babies. 

"If you are just changing a diaper and you’re narrating a little bit what you were doing, you are bringing light and openness to these areas of the body that oftentimes create embarrassment, shame, secrecy," said Crowson. "All of the things that we don’t want to see when discussing those topics.” 

Crowson said parents should use proper names for body parts when talking to their children.

"If we don’t use the proper names, then we are sending a message that they aren’t safe to talk about," she said. 

Crowson also said parents should their children know that no one should touch them there.

“It’s OK to say no to adults if what they are doing is hurtful to you," she said. "Or if it is inappropriate. Or if it is something that you don’t feel comfortable with. It’s OK to tell them no.” 

And no matter what, Crowson said parents should let their children know that they can talk to them about anything without repercussions. 

These can be hard conversations but there are books for both kids and adults that can help make it easier. 

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