Multi-State Educator Investigations
Educators Face Sex-Crime Charges and Investigations Across Three States
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Before resigning, Jesse Ybarra Orta was reportedly reassigned from classroom duties to an office position to limit his interactions with students. He was not issued a Texas teaching certificate and is listed under investigation in the state’s Do Not Hire Registry.
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The South Bend district identified Angela Hardman as a math teacher in its Studebaker YAS young adults’ services program; the renewed allegations resurfaced after social-media photos appeared to show her with the former student. ABC57 said it had not confirmed whether any prior investigation involving her was conducted by law enforcement or only internally by the district.
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Court documents in the Iowa case allege that the 17-year-old added Priscilla Jenness on Snapchat on July 8 and later sent her a sexually explicit image at her request. The documents also state that Jenness admitted the allegations to school officials and that cellphone evidence included statements discussing the exchanged images and videos.
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The O’Brien County sheriff’s office said Jenness faced two Class D felony charges—sexual exploitation by a school employee and grooming—each carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison if convicted, in addition to the misdemeanor charge.
Teachers in Texas, Indiana, and Iowa face sex-crime investigations and criminal charges involving alleged inappropriate relationships or explicit communications with students or former students. Texas Scorecard reports that former San Antonio educator Jesse Ybarra Orta was indicted on two counts of improper relationship between educator and student, plus one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. In South Bend, Indiana, math teacher Angela Hardman remains employed while her school district reviews renewed allegations of a romantic relationship with a former student.
In Iowa, former South O'Brien High School teacher Priscilla Jenness, 37, was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee, grooming, and disseminating obscene material to a minor. KTIV reports that authorities alleged sexual exchanges over Snapchat with a 17-year-old boy, with no physical contact involved. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Texas Educator Indicted on Multiple Sex-Crime Charges
Jesse Ybarra Orta, a former educator in San Antonio, faced indictment on two counts of improper relationship between educator and student, according to Texas Scorecard. Authorities allege he had sexual contact with two 17-year-old students and secretly recorded a girl without permission. Before resigning, Orta was reassigned from classroom duties to office work to limit his contact with students.
Orta was never issued a Texas teaching certificate and is now listed under investigation in the state's Do Not Hire Registry. This registry prevents individuals flagged for misconduct from working as educators in Texas public schools.
South Bend Teacher Remains on Staff Amid Renewed Allegations
Angela Hardman, a math teacher in South Bend's Studebaker Young Adults Services program, remains employed while her school district reviews renewed allegations that she had a romantic relationship with a former student. Social-media photos reportedly show her with the former student, triggering a fresh investigation.
ABC57 reports that it could not confirm whether law enforcement previously investigated Hardman or if an earlier review was conducted only internally by the school district. The renewed allegations suggest prior concerns about her conduct may have surfaced before.
Iowa Teacher Faces Felony Charges Over Snapchat Exchanges
Priscilla Jenness, a former South O'Brien teacher, was charged with two Class D felonies—sexual exploitation by a school employee and grooming—plus a misdemeanor charge of disseminating obscene material to a minor. Court documents state that a 17-year-old student added Jenness on Snapchat on July 8 and later sent her a sexually explicit image at her request, KTIV reports.
KTIV states that cellphone evidence included statements discussing exchanged images and videos. Jenness admitted the allegations to school officials. Each Class D felony carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years if she is convicted. She was released on bond, and no physical contact has been alleged.
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