Texas Department of Public Safety investigators announced they suspect a former Shallowater ISD band teacher accused of sexually abusing two students multiple times may have preyed on other victims.
Joseph Gonzalez, 27, was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center Thursday on a first-degree felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to county jail records. His bond is set at $500,000, according to jail records. He remained in jail as of Saturday.
The offense carries a punishment of 25 years to life in prison without parole.
His charge stems from a Texas Rangers investigation that began on Feb. 4 after the Shallowater ISD police chief asked for assistance investigating reports that Gonzalez was in a sexual relationship with a student, according to court records.
The Ranger observed the child’s forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center, during which the girl said Gonzalez became her band teacher in 2023.
She said the relationship started professionally but turned personal as he began messaging her on Facebook, then on Snapchat after she agreed not to tell anyone about the communications. She reportedly said he started asking her for explicit images of herself, which she sent, the documents state.
She said Gonzalez also sent her pictures of his genitals, the documents state.
The girl reportedly said Gonzalez sexually assaulted her at her home and at the school’s band hall multiple times between May 2024 and December 2025.
The Ranger found on the girl’s phone Facebook messages Gonzalez reportedly sent her that corroborated her outrcy, the documents state.
On Feb. 3, Shallowater ISD officials issued a statement to parents of students saying an unidentified employee was placed on leave after they learned he was being accused of having an improper relationship with a student. Officials could not disclose details of the situation, citing the ongoing investigation, with which they were fully cooperating.
Six days later, the Ranger spoke with another student, who made an outcry accusing Gonzalez of sexually abusing her around the same time as the first girl.
The second girl provided a similar account as the first girl, saying Gonzalez intially began messaging her on a school-approved app but their relationship shifted into a friendship by the summber of 2025. Ultimaltely, Gonzalez reportedly manipulated the girl into trading sexually explicit images with him, the documents state.
The girl reportedly said Gonzalez also sexually abused her at the school’s band hall in October, November and December, the documents state.
The Ranger found messages on the girls phone that Gonzalez reportedly sent her confirming the sexual relationship, the documents state.
Meanwhile, DPS officials believe Gonzalez preyed on more victims and are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Texas Rangers at 806-740-8975.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas DPS seeks more victims in former Shallowater band teacher case
Reporting by Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
