HEB ISD Principal Charged With Soliciting A Child Resigns
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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - Oscar Figueroa has resigned as Viridian Elementary School principal in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, the district announced late Monday afternoon. The resignation was effective July 9.
The District has appointed Dr. Aungelique Brading to the position of principal of Viridian Elementary School. Dr. Brading has been the principal of Stonegate Elementary School the past four years and has been with HEB ISD since 2002.
Meantime, Figueroa appeared in federal court Monday on federal charges for soliciting a child.
It's Oscar Figueroa's second time being arrested. The first time came early last week by Frisco police. The second, by U.S. Homeland Security agents on Friday.
Figueroa will be back in federal court in Plano Thursday morning. That's when a judge will decide whether he can be released or must be detained until after the outcome of a trial on soliciting a child.
On Monday, Figueroa heard two new details in court: He may be formally charged in the case on Wednesday, and if he's indicted and convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. The maximum punishment is life in prison.
Figueroa received a lot of support Monday from about two dozen family and community members who showed up for his hearing. After court, none of them wanted to comment or say anything on his behalf.
Last week, Frisco police arrested the former principal at Viridian Elementary School charging him with making arrangements to have sex with a child. But police say he didn't realize he was making arrangements with an undercover officer.
One of Figueroa's cousins told us on the way in why it was important for them to be at the courthouse. "To support him."
Figuera's attorney, Bruce Anton says, "Obviously, the family stands behind him. He's got a substantial amount of support in the community and they are going to stand behind him 100-percent."
Anton submitted 40 letters of support from family, friends, and others to the judge. That support and connection to the community may make the difference for Figueroa.
The judge may rely on that when deciding whether Figueroa can be released from custody until his trial.
More details in the case may be released later Monday or Tuesday.
