Caleb Elliott, a former football coach at Moore Middle School in Celina, Texas, faces felony charges for invasive visual recording and possession of child pornography after allegedly filming students in the locker room during the 2024–2025 school year.
A recently filed lawsuit claims the school district may have previously shielded Elliott from accountability despite earlier misconduct.
According to court filings, Elliott had previously engaged in an “improper” relationship with a high school student but was reassigned to Moore Middle School instead of being terminated.
While at the middle school, he allegedly installed cameras in locker rooms and captured images of students while undressing, prompting school officials to restrict his access to certain areas, The Blaze reports.
Elliott defended his actions, claiming he “did not know it was illegal” and that the recordings were intended to prevent theft.
Critics argue the district’s decisions allowed the misconduct to continue unchecked.
BlazeTV commentator Sara Gonzales described the events as “traumatizing” and accused the school of protecting a “child predator” to preserve its football program.
Tensions escalated at a school board meeting on Friday, where nearly 150 parents demanded answers.
One parent said, “We trusted that our boys were safe. We have so many questions, namely how did this happen?”
NBC 5 reports that community members pressed officials for clarity on whether prior misconduct had been reported and properly addressed.
The Celina Police Department confirmed Elliott’s arrest, noting students observed him holding a phone near his waist in the locker room and concealing it when others were nearby.
Investigators recovered twelve images showing boys in various states of undress.
Parents voiced frustration at the possibility that prior reports may have been ignored, raising questions about district oversight.
Bill Elliott, Caleb’s father and head football coach at Celina High School, addressed the board, expressing sorrow and supporting accountability.
“There’s one person to blame for all this. One person who made a bad decision and a bad choice… He will face the consequences,” Bill Elliott said.
State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) attended the meeting and pledged ongoing oversight.
“At the state level we’re watching, and while we’ve done a lot to protect our schools and our kids, everything’s on the table when it comes to what we do going forward,” he said.
Prior to the investigation, Caleb Elliott resigned from his teaching position and surrendered his license.
According to News4SA, the school board announced it would hire an independent investigator to determine whether the alleged incidents were isolated or part of a broader pattern of misconduct.
The case has prompted intense scrutiny of Celina ISD’s hiring practices, student safety policies and handling of previous allegations.
Parents and officials have stressed the importance of transparency, with several calling for systemic reforms to prevent similar situations.
The investigation’s outcome could have lasting implications for the district’s accountability and the protection of students.
As the community processes the revelations, questions remain about how prior reports were managed and whether corrective measures will be implemented.
Families and local authorities are united in the goal of ensuring that students are safe and that any systemic failures are addressed promptly.
The district’s response in the coming weeks will be closely watched by residents, parents and education officials alike.
