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DISD Teacher Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Abusing First Grader

October 5, 2016 / 2:57 PM CDT / CBS Texas

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UPDATED | October 5, 2016 10PM

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Pre-K teacher at Arthur Kramer Elementary in Dallas ISD, Jorge Ruiz, 53, was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a young child and indecency with a child by contact.

Ruiz was placed in Lew Sterrett Jail with bail set at $200,000 -- $100,000 for each offense.

"I'm still in shock... He was a good person, teacher… I liked him. I don't understand it. I'm in shock," said parent Ruth Rodriguez about the teacher who has worked at the school for at least a decade.

A therapist contacted police on Sept. 30 about an alleged incident involving Ruiz and her client that had happened ten years before, according to the arrest warrant.

Police then forensically interviewed the young girl. She told them Ruiz was her first grade teacher. One day, while the other children were outside for recess, Ruiz told her to put her hand in his pocket because there was "a bunny" inside. But there was a hole in Ruiz's pocket, and when she reached in, she felt what she now knows was his penis, according to the warrant. The victim told the interviewer that two years later, a friend told her about sex and she realized what he had done.

The victim also told police that Ruiz told her that he was her dad. Also, she thought Ruiz was trying to "get with" her mom, according to the warrant. She said Ruiz took both her and her mother to Toys "R" Us; buying her a birthday gift. He even invited the victim and her mother to his home for dinner.

The girl told police she never confided in her mother about the abuse out of fear, but that she has since gotten over her fear.

Ruiz was subsequently charged based on the child's allegations.

In a news conference Wednesday, police said in the course of investigating her allegations, they found evidence for the indecency with a child by contact charge, which involved another of Ruiz's students. Police didn't offer further information about the second charge. They also said there are possibly additional victims who they need to interview.

Anyone with any information regarding this offense or any other victims involving Ruiz should contact Detective Mayfield at 214.275.1300.

DISD released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"This is a very serious matter. While we are unable to comment on this personnel issue involving a teacher, we can share that the individual has been placed on administrative leave. We will continue to cooperate with authorities, and remain committed to providing a safe instructional environment for our students each day."

Parents at the school reacted with mixed emotions of concern and shock as the news of Ruiz's arrest spread.

"As a Dad, first of all I'm going to talk to his Mom. We're going to discuss what the situation is," said parent Sanjay Dharmapal. "We're going to try to look into it more. We're going to read the letter we just got and find out what's going on."

The charges against Ruiz have many parents understandably concerned.

Clinical Director of the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center, Dan Powers told CBS11 that it's important to help children set boundaries with everyone. That includes teachers, coaches and other trusted adults.

"My advice to parents is to start at an early age and it's a frequent conversation," said Powers. "Kids learn from repetitive messages… not a one time talk you have with a child. It's a talk you have often."

Powers also urged parents to remind children that they have a right to say "no" if something makes them uncomfortable.

"Where there's kids, there's going to be child abuse. Unfortunately there are evil people out there who hurt children," he warned.

Police said Ruiz has no prior arrests.