Andrea Rodriguez faces charges of evidence tampering and attempted improper relationship after a Karnes County grand jury review.
SAN ANTONIO — A former Runge Independent School District employee accused of having an improper relationship with a student has been indicted by a Karnes County grand jury and turned herself in to authorities, officials said Thursday.
Andrea M. Rodriguez, also known as Andrea Peña, was indicted Jan. 6 on charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and attempted improper relationship between educator and student, according to the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators allege Rodriguez destroyed evidence connected to the case and engaged in intimate actions with a student while employed by the district.
Following the indictments, arrest warrants were issued and Rodriguez surrendered to the Karnes County Jail without incident, authorities said. She was formally magistrated Wednesday, and the case will now be forwarded to the 81st Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
The charges stem from allegations first reported Nov. 7, when the sheriff’s office said it was notified of an improper relationship between a Runge ISD employee and a middle school student. Investigators said they found digital evidence confirming the relationship had occurred over an extended period.
The sheriff’s office says Rodriguez confessed to the actions during questioning and was initially arrested on a warrant for tampering with evidence.
Officials said the incident appears to be isolated and does not pose an ongoing threat to the community. The Runge ISD superintendent was notified so the Texas Education Agency could be informed.