A former Ocean City High School teacher was sentenced to five years in prison in the sexual assault of a student in 2016.
Ricardo Valle, now 35, was arrested last year in Texas, where he was living.
Valle is accused of abusing the teen in 2016, when he was a music teacher at the school.
The assaults began during an overnight field trip to Washington, D.C., that March, the victim told investigators.
On the last day of school, Valle allegedly told a group of students he would not be returning the next year, and then got the girl alone in a storage area by telling her he wanted to “say a proper goodbye.”
That’s when he allegedly attacked her, leaving the girl bruised. She told investigators she was able to break free from Valle and fled the room.
He pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child, admitting to engaging in sexual conduct with the girl.
Valle was working as a at the Clear Creek Independent School District in Houston at the time of his arrest.
He must forfeit his teaching certificate as part of the plea agreement, along with any future public service.
Valle also must register as a Megan’s Law offender, with lifetime supervision.
He also is to have no contact with the victim in the case.
