A teacher-coach with the Cedar Hill Independent School District was arrested Wednesday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two charges of improper relationship with a student.
Marlena Mints, who taught health at Bessie Colman Middle School, was placed on administrative leave April 30 after school administrators learned of the allegations. School officials then contacted the Cedar Hill Police Department, who began an investigation into the claims.
One of the alleged victims told police, “...He has been allowed to also touch her (private parts) on numerous occasions while spending time in her classroom in the presence of other students whom were also allowed to do the same.”
According to arrest affidavits, Mints had sexual contact with at least two teens, one a current student, the other a former student. Police said the incidents took place at her home and on school grounds.
Warrants were issued for Mints' arrest Wednesday by the Cedar Hill Police Department. She was stopped for a traffic violation a short time later and taken into custody without incident. She was booked into the DeSoto Jail and later transferred to the Dallas County Jail. She is being held on $450,000 bond, $150,000 for each charge.
Civil Rights activist Kyev Tatum said he’s been contacted by the families involved in the allegations.
“They're distraught. They’re distraught from the vantage point that their children have been taken advantage of,” said Rev. Tatum. “No one wants to send their kids to school to get an education and then to be used as someone's pleasure toy and no one does anything about it.”
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Last week, the district sent letters home to parents alerting them to the allegations and encouraged parents to talk to their children about any concerns they may have.
The district released the following statement:
"The Cedar Hill ISD works diligently to ensure the safety of students at our schools. The District will continue to cooperate with the City of Cedar Hill Police Department as the investigation continues. Because this is an ongoing investigation, the District will not be answering questions or releasing other information at this time."
According to her page on the school's web site, Mints attended Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Abilene Christian University.
Mints has been employed with the district since 2006.
NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.
