Texas Teacher and 3 Others Arrested for Child Sex Trafficking Ring

Texas teacher Gershon Caston was arrested in Dallas, Texas, on child sex trafficking charges on July 20, 2023. Dallas County Jail Records

Four suspects, including a North Texas teacher, were arrested last week in connection with child sex trafficking in Dallas, Texas, according to authorities.

Gershon Caston, 38, who most recently taught in Duncanville, Texas, was arrested on July 20. He is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, compelling prostitution of a person under 18, and child sex trafficking, Dallas County Jail records showed.

Three others were also arrested, Dallas Police said in a news release.

Lamorris Hudspeth, 47, was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and is being held on a $250,000 bond, Dallas County Jail records showed on July 24.

Amber Gords, 30, was charged with compelling prostitution of a person under 18,  child sex trafficking, drug possession, and the unlawful carrying of a weapon. She remains in custody on a total bond of $505,600.

Adarius Staples, 33, was charged with compelling prostitution of a person under 18, child sex trafficking, and aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to authorities. It is unclear whether or not Mr. Staples is still in custody. His information did not appear in Dallas County Jail records.

A joint investigation between the Dallas Police Special Investigation Division and Homeland Security Investigations led to the suspects’ arrests in connection with the sex trafficking of a child in Dallas.

In May, Mr. Caston was hired by Red Oak ISD (ROISD) to teach and coach at Red Oak Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year and is still currently employed by the district.

ROISD issued a statement on its website on July 20, notifying parents of “two non-district related arrests this week involving a former employee and a new hire who had not begun his contract.”

“These arrests and allegations are horrible as both involved sexual misconduct involving minors; please note no ROISD students have been involved,” the district wrote. It is not immediately clear who the “former employee” is that the district mentions, and the district did not respond to a request for clarification regarding the second teacher.

The school board is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Monday evening to address Mr. Caston’s employment.

“As a contract employee, Mr. Caston does have rights; however, we are moving swiftly through due process to terminate his employment and file the appropriate actions against him with TEA [Texas Education Agency] and SBEC [State Board of Education Certification],” ROISD Chief Communication Officer Beth Trimble told The Epoch Times.

State records show Mr. Caston received his Texas Educator Certificate on Feb. 1, 2021. It was set to expire on Jan. 31, 2027. He is certified to teach grades 4 through 8, and special education.

In an updated letter to parents and staff on Monday, the district said Mr. Caston met the requirements for employment and helped with athletic training this summer.

“He has not started his contract with Red Oak ISD; however, he did assist some with summer strength training and conditioning camp through the [d]istrict,” the letter stated, adding that there have been no reports of ROISD students being involved in the allegations.

Most recently, Mr. Caston worked at Duncanville High School as a teacher and coach for Duncanville ISD (DISD) during the 2022-2023 school year, DISD Communications Chief Connie Wallace told The Epoch Times in an email. He also worked as a substitute teacher for the district from November 2012 through June 2014.

Mr. Caston was placed on paid leave for alleged misconduct during his recent employment.

“Mr. Caston was placed on paid administrative leave while in Duncanville IS for inappropriate behavior/communication,” Ms. Wallace said. “He ended the year on leave and was not recommended to return to the district for the upcoming school year.”

“Mr. Caston resigned from his position effective at the end of the school year,” Ms. Wallace added.

The district said it had not notified families of the former teacher’s arrest.

“Since Mr. Caston is no longer employed in the district, we plan to take no further action,” Ms. Wallace said.

No disciplinary action reports were filed against Mr. Caston during the past school year.

The suspect has reportedly also worked for Irving ISD and DeSoto ISD, KTVT-TV reported.

East Texas Teacher Arrested in Unrelated Case

A former Nacogdoches Independent School District (NISD) teacher, in a separate case, was also arrested on July 20.

Annaleigh Andrews was charged with 12 felonies, including three counts each of trafficking a child to engage in sexual conduct, sexual assault of a child, improper relationship between student and educator, and enticing a child with intent to commit a felony, according to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office.

The 24-year-old teacher taught at McMichael Middle School in Nacogdoches, Texas, during the 2022-2023 school year. Earlier this month, Ms. Andrews resigned from the district before the improper relationship was made known. 

“Andrews informed the district she was taking another job,” NISD told The Epoch Times in an email. 

The district said it had notified parents that a former teacher had been arrested.

“Nacogdoches ISD is aware of the arrest of a former McMichael Middle School teacher on a charge related to a possible improper teacher-student relationship. On Wednesday, July 19, NISD learned of information related to the alleged teacher-student relationship and promptly contacted the district’s police department. NISD Police investigated and then involved City of Nacogdoches Police. The teacher had resigned earlier this month before the allegation came to light and is no longer employed by the district,” the district wrote in a statement to parents.

A social media post prompted the investigation, according to the arrest warrant affidavit, local news station KTRE-TV reported.

“The safety and welfare of all students is the overriding priority of the district. Upon learning of this allegation, NISD immediately contacted law enforcement. The district appreciates those who brought the information forward and encourages continued reporting by others when a concern exists regarding the health or safety of our NISD student population,” the statement said.

Ms. Andrews remains in custody at the Nacogdoches County Jail on a total bond of $825,000.