By Andy Sevilla
A Hays High School criminal justice teacher who is accused of telling his students that the 17-year-old arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats was not acting alone, and that danger remained at the campus, is being fired.
Ricardo Gabriel Sanchez, 46, was arrested Oct. 31 and charged with making a false alarm or report of emergency, a state jail felony, according to Hays County Jail records.
The school district placed Sanchez on paid administrative leave the day of his arrest according to Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy. Board trustees unanimously voted Tuesday night to terminate his contract with Hays CISD.
Hays Superintendent Mike McKie said the district would notify Sanchez Wednesday that his contract had been terminated. McKie said Sanchez could appeal the decision.
Oct. 30 was a day of panic at Hays High School. Many parents feared for their children’s safety as a student allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school and inflict harm on others.
That student, James Wayne Archer, was arrested in the early morning hours of Oct. 30 after admitting to police he threatened to kill the school’s assistant principal with a Colt Python and a knife dipped in snake venom, according to court documents.
After Archer’s arrest, law enforcement and school officials both said threats to Hays High School had been eliminated and the school was safe. Communications went out to parents indicating everything was back to normal. Classes began as usual that day.
But Sanchez perpetuated the rumors that Archer was not acting alone. About 130 students left school early on Oct. 31 because parents feared an additional threat existed.
Sanchez was arrested the next day.
The district’s administration and school board are being tight-lipped about the termination and would not comment Tuesday night after its regularly scheduled board meeting.
“It does no one any service to undermine the communications we’re sending out to parents. That leads to more problems for everyone,” Savoy said late last month regarding the incident. “It’s scary enough to have a threat against our school in the first place, but it’s completely unnecessary and irresponsible to add another level of fear and uncertainty.”
Court documents state that Sanchez told students that two other individuals were involved in Archer’s shooting plan at the high school. He said those other two students had not been found.
“If y’all have ever bullied somebody else. You’re gonna be the first ones to go,” Sanchez is reported as telling his students, according to court documents.
“If he comes in here and starts shooting hopefully he’ll be out of bullets by the time he finishes with y’all and see me,” the teacher is reported as telling students.
Sanchez was released from jail Nov. 4 on a $10,000 surety bond. He is a commissioned peace officer with the State, according to Hays County Sheriff’s officials. His commission is presently held by the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office.
Archer was released hours after being arrested on Oct. 30 after posting a $50,000 surety bond, according to jail records.
