UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas – Recently, a serious situation unfolded at First Baptist Academy involving a band teacher named Stephen Strawn, who was arrested due to allegations of child indecency and grooming involving a 13-year-old student.
Strawn, aged 50, was taken into custody and booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. According to the arrest affidavit, he is accused of asking the student to try on various shirts that revealed her back and stomach during multiple occasions.
The allegations came to light when, just two days later, the student reported to police that Strawn had requested her help with flag team uniforms. Detectives discovered that he had pulled the student out of class several times last November for what he referred to as “private band lessons.”
During an interview, Strawn admitted to conducting unauthorized private lessons, uniform fittings, and even taking photographs of the student. He acknowledged that there was another student involved in a similar incident and mentioned a potential grooming situation that occurred two years ago.
In response to these allegations, First Baptist Academy acted swiftly. Upon learning of the investigation, they placed Strawn on administrative leave immediately. Pastor Ryan Gilbert emphasized the school’s commitment to student safety, stating, “The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
The school is actively working to support students, families, and staff who may be affected by this troubling situation. Gilbert expressed the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students at the academy.
In a formal statement, the church and academy confirmed their awareness of the situation, mentioning that the investigation was initiated by Child Protective Services in coordination with the Universal City Police Department. They emphasized their cooperation with law enforcement and their commitment to a transparent investigative process.
“Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we will not be providing additional details at this time,” Gilbert noted. “We ask for continued prayer for those directly impacted, especially the students and families affected, as well as for our school community.”
The Universal City Police Department is currently seeking any additional information related to this case and encourages anyone with relevant details to reach out to Detective Lieutenant Daniel Carmona at carmona@ucpdtx.org.
