Jose Luis Martinez-Robledo is being held at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities (NORCOR)

By Brent Weisberg and KOIN 6 News staff
Published: October 20, 2016, 6:00 am Updated: October 20, 2016, 6:00 am


Jose Luis Martinez-Robledo is being held at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities (NORCOR).

THE DALLES, Ore. (KOIN) – An educational assistant with the North Wasco County School District is in jail and is on paid leave after allegations were made that he inappropriately touched two females, and now his immigration status is coming into question by federal authorities.

Jose Luis Martinez-Robledo is being held at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities (NORCOR) one five counts of harassment.

In addition to the criminal harassment charges, Martinez-Robledo is being held on an immigration hold. A spokesperson with the Department of Homeland Security said the agency is looking into allegations that Martinez-Robledo may not have been a legal resident of the United States.

ICE confirmed that Martinez-Robledo was previously removed from the United States in 1997. KOIN 6 News has learned that in 1997, Martinez-Robledo tried to fraudulently enter the U.S. He was then arrested, processed for expedited removal and removed from the U.S. the same day. It remains unknown how or when Martinez-Robledo re-entered the U.S.

According to court documents, Martinez-Robledo harassed two separate females between September 1 and October 10. Specific details of the alleged incidents have not been disclosed. However, records show that Martinez-Robledo touched the females’ arms, shoulders or buttocks.

The relationship between Martinez-Robledo and the two females has not been released, nor have their ages.

Robert Dais, the Director of Human Resources at the North Wasco County School District, told KOIN 6 News that Martinez-Robledo remains on paid leave. Martinez-Robledo was hired by the district on Jan. 3, 2015.

In 2006, Martinez-Robledo served as an assistant soccer coach.

According to Dais, in 2006, Martinez-Robledo was investigated by police and the district for inappropriate social interactions with students. The allegations were made by a student. It does not appear any criminal charges were filed in that case.

The district issued of a letter of reprimand to Martinez-Robledo following their investigation, KOIN 6 News has learned.

On Oct. 10, the district learned about a separate police investigation involving Martinez-Robledo. The allegations were made in 2007 and were not school related, according to Dais. Details of the allegations were not released by the district.

Dais tells KOIN 6 News that the district is meeting with the Oregon Educational Association regarding possible disciplinary action for Martinez-Robledo over the new criminal harassment allegations. Those meetings are expected to conclude by Thursday.

Dais said that when Martinez-Robledo was hired, he provided a social security number, driver’s license, and green card. Dais said the district “accepts the documents as provided.”

In 2007-2008, the district moved to an e-verify system that compares information from an employee’s verification documents and data given to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration.

According to ICE, the federal hold they’ve placed on Martinez-Robledo mandates that local authorities notify ICE before his release so ICE can take the opportunity to take him into custody to pursue possible administrative immigration enforcement action.

Martinez-Robledo is due in court Thursday in Wasco County Circuit Court.

http://koin.com/2016/10/20/teachers-...into-question/