By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
A former Point Isabel ISD teacher and coach pleaded not guilty Wednesday to six separate charges handed down by a Cameron County grand jury.
The grand jury indicted Robert Walter Pensado last month on six counts, alleging he carried on an improper relationship with a student while he was a teacher at Rio Hondo ISD. The charges include one count of sexual assault, three counts of improper relationship between an educator and a student, producing, directing or promoting the sexual performance of a child, and possession of child pornography.
Pensado pleaded not guilty on all six counts, his attorney, Rick Canales said during a phone interview Wednesday. “He was originally charged with four counts — they added two separate counts,” Canales said.
The former teacher remains free on a $150,000 surety bond, Canales said. “Because he was out on a $150,000 bond and he had been reporting, they went ahead and allowed him to continue the same bond,” Canales said.
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