A man broke into a Lower Valley middle school late last month and walked around the campus completely naked, according to El Paso police, who are now asking the public to help identify him. The suspect is described as Hispanic, with long hair, a beard, and a thin build, and was last seen wearing prescription glasses along with a black T-shirt, matching black shorts, and black shoes.
According to KFOX, police say the man broke into Bel Air Middle School and was seen stripping and roaming the campus in the nude, per information from Crime Stoppers of El Paso. Crime Stoppers has pinned the break-in to either July 31 or August 1, with slightly conflicting dates attributed to the organization in different accounts of the incident. The nonprofit has released surveillance video showing the suspect, hoping someone recognizes him.
Where the Break-In Happened
Bel Air Middle School sits at 7909 Ranchland Drive in El Paso's Mission Valley area of the Lower Valley, serving roughly 1,000 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Ysleta Independent School District, according to Niche. YISD is one of the largest public school systems in the region, running 50 campuses and educating more than 34,000 students across El Paso County, per data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.
The district maintains a 24-hour central dispatch security department and partners with the El Paso Police Department through its School-Based Law Enforcement program, which assigns off-duty officers to campuses, according to Ysleta ISD. Even so, overnight perimeter security at individual middle school campuses tends to rely heavily on video surveillance and community tips rather than officers stationed on-site around the clock. Ysleta ISD also runs a district-wide “Speak Up” reporting system that lets students and community members submit anonymous tips about break-ins or threats via text or phone.
What Charges the Man Could Face
If identified and arrested, the suspect could face a state jail felony charge for burglary of a building other than a habitation under Texas Penal Code § 30.02, since Bel Air Middle School is a public building rather than a residence. That charge carries a punishment range of 180 days to two years in a state jail facility along with a fine of up to $10,000, according to FindLaw.
He could also face a Class B misdemeanor charge for indecent exposure under Texas Penal Code § 21.08, punishable by up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000 for a first offense, FindLaw notes. The statute requires prosecutors to prove the person acted recklessly about whether someone present would be offended or alarmed. If the suspect has a prior indecent exposure conviction, a second violation under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Penal Code § 62.005 would trigger a mandatory 10-year sex offender registration requirement, according to Barnett Howard & Williams PLLC.
How to Submit a Tip
Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477, and tipsters can also submit information online at cselpaso.org. Anyone whose tip leads to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward, and tips remain anonymous, with tipster identity protected under Texas Government Code § 414.008.
Founded in 1978, Crime Stoppers of El Paso was the first certified Crime Stoppers program in Texas and the second in the nation, and the nonprofit says it has helped clear more than 6,500 cases and facilitate over 4,700 arrests. The organization regularly partners with El Paso police on a weekly “Crime of the Week” initiative, releasing surveillance footage and suspect descriptions in hopes of turning casual sightings into leads, as it did in this case.
It remains unclear exactly how the man got into the building, whether any school property was damaged or taken, or whether students or staff were on campus overnight when the break-in occurred. It's also not known whether YISD has made any changes to physical security at Bel Air Middle School since the intrusion. A recent Tractor Supply break-in in El Paso similarly relied on Crime Stoppers tips and reward incentives to help investigators track down a suspect, as per Hoodline.
