A Texas teacher reported suspected sexual exploitation of an intellectually disabled woman.

Six days later, he was arrested.

James Louis Roden Jr. is a longtime public-school teacher, special-education-certified educator, coach, minister, father, and mandated reporter. He says he did what every teacher is legally and morally required to do: he reported suspected abuse of a vulnerable disabled woman and tried to help her be heard.

Instead of protecting the disabled victim, Guadalupe County went after the teacher who reported the abuse.

James was arrested for first-degree felony witness tampering after reporting suspected exploitation involving his intellectually disabled niece — the same young woman whose stepfather was confirmed by DNA to have impregnated her.

James alleges this was not an accident. He alleges it was part of a strategy by the accused sexual assaulter and his defense team to shift blame, attack the victim’s family, reduce his own criminal exposure, and turn the mandated reporter into the accused.

And it worked.

The teacher who reported suspected abuse was arrested for a first-degree felony.

His elderly disabled father, a retired United States Army veteran, was also arrested.

Meanwhile, the man DNA confirmed impregnated an intellectually disabled woman saw the most serious charges reduced, while the teacher who reported the suspected abuse faced more potential prison time than the man he reported.

That should terrify every teacher, nurse, counselor, social worker, minister, coach, nonprofit worker, and family advocate in America.

Because if this is allowed to stand, the message is clear:

Report abuse, and you may become the accused.

Protect a disabled victim, and you may be arrested.

Speak up against sexual exploitation, and your career may be destroyed.

This arrest exposes a dangerous crack in the protections Americans are promised: constitutional protections, ADA protections, Texas mandated-reporter protections, and the basic right to report abuse without fear of retaliation.

We demand that Sheriff Joshua Ray of Guadalupe County conduct a real, independent investigation into this false arrest, the disputed warrant process, and the person who allegedly made false accusations and later lied under oath. If someone falsely accused James Roden Jr., his elderly father, or his family, that person must be held accountable.

We also ask the public to contact Sheriff Joshua Ray of Guadalupe County, Governor Greg Abbott, and their state and federal representatives. Ask them to investigate what happened in Guadalupe County and strengthen protections for mandated reporters, teachers, disabled victims, veterans, and family advocates.

People with intellectual disabilities are among the easiest victims to silence. They need teachers, families, advocates, and mandated reporters to speak up when something is wrong.

But no one will speak up if reporting abuse can be turned into a felony charge.

Please sign this petition to demand accountability in Guadalupe County, protect mandated reporters, defend disabled victims, and stop the criminalization of advocacy.

Protect the vulnerable. Defend mandated reporters. Hold false accusers accountable.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” — Proverbs 31:8

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