LA VERNIA, Texas – La Vernia Independent School District superintendent Jose Moreno is expected to publicly address a hazing scandal that has rocked the community at a school board meeting Monday night.
According to a spokesman for Jose Moreno, the superintendent will make a statement to parents and then hold a press conference following a public comment portion of the meeting.
Moreno has only addressed the scandal, which has resulted in the arrests of 10 students, saying in a Facebook post that the "the travesty of the events occurring at the La Vernia High School has crushed the spirit of our community."
His spokesman said that Moreno wanted to speak earlier about the scandal, but that he was advised by the district's police chief not to do so.
Because the meeting is expected to attract a large crowd, it was moved to the school cafeteria. The public comment portion of the meeting is expected to take an hour.
In another development, Audrey Gossett Louis, district attorney for the 81st District, which covers Wilson County, requested the Texas Attorney General's Office to take over prosecution of the cases involving the 10 students. Louis also asked the Texas Rangers to lead the criminal investigation.
DA Louis says reason 4 Texas Rangers and Texas AG taking over La Vernia sex assaults to avoid appearance of conflict of interest #KSATnews
— Joshua Skurnik (@JoshSkurnikTV) April 3, 2017
The police chief said the sex crimes began in 2014. More arrests are expected as the case is investigated.
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