TYLER, Texas — A former Tyler ISD teacher's aide accused of persuading students to send inappropriate photos and having improper interactions with them was arrested Thursday.
JBraylon Dewayne Fears, 20, of Tyler, was booked into the Smith County Jail Thursday on charges of online solicitation of a minor and employing a child for a sexual performance along with the two counts of improper relationship with a student. His bonds total $600,000. He was arrested by the Tyler ISD Police Department, jail records show.
A letter to parents from administration said a staff member reported their concerns through the Safe2SpeakUp! App about the teacher's aide, which were then given to law enforcement. The aide was then fired and the administration said the employee will never be allowed back to the district.
The aide was later arrested on charges against children, according to the letter.
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 the 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 states that 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.
“It is inconceivable that this adult did this to one of our students,” Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “Under no circumstances is that behavior tolerated at Tyler ISD. We have the fullest confidence in the Smith County legal system to address these charges to the fullest extent that the law will allow.”
The letter said Tyler ISD has a zero-tolerance policy and significant ramifications exist for these actions. Counselors are available for students who may need to talk while they are at school.
"We always encourage anyone with knowledge about any safety concerns to inform campus administration immediately," the letter stated.