AUSTIN, Texas — A former college readiness tutor at Akins High School was arrested last week for indecency with a child, a second-degree felony.
According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE, on Oct. 25, the mother of a 14-year-old reported to police that her child had informed her that a tutor – later identified by police as 28-year-old Isaiah Xavier Smith – had touched him inappropriately over his clothes while they were alone in the computer lab.
The child told his mother that when Smith released the other students from the tutoring session, Smith asked him to remain behind in the computer lab. Surveillance video corroborated the fact that the child and Smith were alone in the computer lab together, according to the affidavit.
The child said that he had only one contact with Smith prior to the incident and that during both contacts, Smith offered to buy him shoes and underwear and to give him money.
On Dec. 8, Austin ISD sent a letter to Akins families stating that Austin ISD Police Department officers had arrested Smith that day on a charge of indecency with a child by contact. The letter also stated that Smith's access to Akins was terminated when the student first reported the allegation on Oct. 25.
"Your child’s safety is our greatest concern," Assistant Superintendent Dr. Angel Wilson said in the letter. "We are doing everything we can to understand how this incident occurred to prevent situations like this in the future."
According to the letter, AISD leadership hosted a family meeting in the Akins library on Monday night to "listen, share counseling resources and assess the need for additional support." Parents and guardians were told to contact Akins Principal Michael Herbin at michael.herbin@austinisd.org if they have any questions.
The letter stated that Smith had worked as a college readiness tutor at Akins between September and October of this semester.