TX school worker faces felony for anti-Trump graffiti at construction site

Victor Skinner, EAGNews.org 

HOUSTON – A teacher’s aide in the Spring Branch Independent School District faces criminal charges after she allegedly spray-painted anti-Trump graffiti on a brand new school still under construction.

Police allege a witness recording the car and license plate of Jaya Jacobs after she allegedly spray painted “Impeach Trump” on numerous mesh banners at the Alief Career Center under construction in the Alief Independent School District adjacent to Spring Branch ISD in suburban Houston, KHOU reports.

The witness allegedly recorded Jacobs vandalizing the site with a cell phone.

“The witness also shot video of her car and license plate as she drove away,” according to the news site. “He posted the video on social media and a Spring Branch ISD employee recognized Jacobs and alerted police, court documents say.”

Police allege Jacobs admitted to the stunt and apologized when questioned by the district’s human resources department, though it’s unclear whether she’s still employed by Spring Branch ISD or faced any type of reprimand.

She now faces a felony criminal mischief charge because the damage to the signs exceeded $5,000, KHOU reports.

The incident follows other Trump-related controversies in the Spring Branch ISD since Donald Trump’s historic election win Nov. 8.

Parents at Woodview Elementary School complained to district officials that Principal Pamela Pennington broadcast her excitement about Trump’s victory during the morning announcements on Nov. 9, though Pennington denied the accusation, the Houston Chronicle reports.

“I did not endorse Trump or Clinton. I did not and I would not,” she said. “I did not tell people who I voted for or that I was happy. It was not a celebration.”

Regardless, an undocumented parent of an 8-year-old at Woodview told the news site her son was devastated by Pennington’s comments and now won’t eat because he’s so terrified his parents will be deported.

“When she said that, my son just started crying,” the unidentified mother told the Chronicle. “He started crying that we don’t have papers. He said we need to go to Mexico because the principal supported Trump, she doesn’t like Hispanic people and she wants us to get papers.”

“That’s fine if she voted for Trump, that’s fine,” the mother continued. “But don’t say that in front of kids or to scare the kids. Kids are supposed to come to school with no worries – to learn and to be happy. So for her to say that first thing during the morning announcements is not right. I hope she apologizes.”

Other parents like Alma Gordillo, a Mexican in the country legally, said their children relayed a similar message about Pennington’s remarks.

“The way they see it their principal is celebrating and wanting them to leave the country,” Gordillo said.

“I wasn’t there, I don’t know what she said,” the mother added. “But if multiple children are understanding the same message, obviously something was said that’s completely inappropriate or it was understood in a way that was completely inappropriate.”