EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Two Socorro ISD trustees and the wife of one have been indicted and are charged with interfering and trying to improperly influence operations at two different schools and at the district office, according to documents obtained by KTSM.
According to court documents, Trustee Pablo Alfonso Barrera, 39, faces one count of improper influence, one count of official oppression, and four counts of obstruction or retaliation.
Barrera turned himself into the County Detention Center Thursday morning, May 9 and was immediately released on $6,000 bond.
Trustee Ricardo Castellano, 61, and his wife, Gabriela Castellano, 57, are each facing two counts of obstruction or retaliation. Gabriela Castellano is a former Socorro ISD employee.
Ricardo and Gabriela Castellano turned themselves in Thursday evening and were each immediately released on a $4,000 bond.
The indictments come from a Texas Ranger investigation.
The indictments allege that Barrera attempted to improperly influence or retaliate against two district employees — Assistant Superintendent Melissa Parham and Hueco Elementary Principal Greg Hatch.
The alleged incidents involving Hatch occurred between July 1, 2022, and Sept.15, 2023. The indictment alleges the charges involving Parham occurred on May 30, 2022, months before the alleged involvement with Hatch.
As KTSM previously reported, Barrera’s wife, Angelica Ramirez, was arrested in November for allegedly filing a false report stemming from an incident with Hueco Elementary principal Greg Hatch in September 2023. Ramirez’s trial is scheduled to begin on June 24.
The indictments allege the Castellanos improperly tried to influence, threaten, or retaliate against Bill Sybert School Principal Gabriela Elliot between August 21, 2021, and March 30, 2022.
El Paso Matters previously reported the Castellanos and Barrera were part of a controversial recording uploaded to the Socorro ISD computer system by Gabriela Castellano as part of a complaint against Elliot, who was principal at Bill Sybert Elementary, where she worked.
The 33-hour audio file was recorded on Aug. 10, 2021, just 11 days before the indictment alleges the Castellanos began influencing, threatening, or retaliating against Elliot.
KTSM received a statement from SISD Spokesperson Daniel Escobar Thursday evening: “The district was made aware that two current Trustees and a former employee were arrested by the El Paso Sheriff’s Department earlier today. This is a legal matter, and we will cooperate with law enforcement. The district has no additional information on the matter at this time. The focus of the district remains serving students and supporting staff to ensure the successful completion of the school year.”
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