Former Palmview teacher faces life sentence after posing as teen, exploiting minor online

PALMVIEW, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A former substitute teacher at Palmview High School pleaded guilty Friday to exploiting a minor online.

Juan Carlos Munoz, 42, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, according to federal records.

On Dec. 13, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received a referral from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The referral stated the York County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina received information of online enticement of a 14-year-old child, according to a criminal complaint.

"The YCSO reported that [the victim] sent nude images to a man in Texas claiming to be a 19-year-old adult male," the complaint stated.

The sheriff's office investigated the case, and discovered the telephone number was linked to Mission resident, identified as Munoz.

Three days later, investigators, with the assistance from the La Joya Independent School District Police Department, contacted Munoz at Palmview High School. According to the complaint, Munoz was employed at the time as a special education teacher at the high school.

Munoz said that he had been employed as a teacher for 14 years. A news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office specified that he was a substitute teacher.

In an interview, Munoz admitted to soliciting the minor for explicit images. According to the complaint, Munoz stated he believed the victim was 11 to 12 years old.

"Munoz told [special agents] that over the last three years he has solicited over 50 minor children via the internet for nude images and video," the complaint stated.

After his arrest, La Joya ISD issued the following statement:

“We are aware that former teacher from Palmview has been arrested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. We have been informed that this investigation does not involve La Joya ISD,” the release from La Joya ISD stated. “We will continue to monitor the progress of this investigation. The safety of our students and staff continues to be our number one priority as we provide Educational Excellence for all.”

Sentencing will be held July 19, and Munoz faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.