TYLER, Texas — A former Tyler ISD teacher's aide was sentenced to 18 years in prison Tuesday for having improper relationships with students.
JBraylon Dewayne Fears, 21, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to two counts of improper relationship with a student on Tuesday in the 7th District Court. He was then sentenced to 18 years, according to judicial records.
As part of the plea, the state agreed to dismiss the charges of online solicitation of a minor and employing a child for a sexual performance that Fears was charged with during his May 2 arrest, records show.
An arrest affidavit identified Fears as a paraprofessional at one of Tyler ISD’s middle school campuses. Students at the school reported to teachers that Fears touched students and flirted with them at the school.
According to documents, a few students told investigators that Fears touched them inappropriately and persuaded them to send him photos through Snapchat.
In an interview with police, Fears denied these accusations multiple times but when confronted about specific conversations, his demeanor changed and he admitted to the text messages. He also admitted to requesting photos from the students, the affidavit said.
The affidavit stated Fears had a relationship with a student at a different campus. Fears and that student initially denied having an inappropriate relationship.
But text messages and a confession showed Fears and the student were in an inappropriate relationship that began while he worked at the district and she was a student, the document read.
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