A former Azle ISD student has filed a federal lawsuit against the district and several officials, alleging she was sexually abused by a high school coach over a period spanning her sophomore and junior years.
The lawsuit, filed on August 11, 2025, names Azle Independent School District, Superintendent Todd Smith, former athletic director Rebecca Spurlock, and coach Carlos Alberto Font-Santiago as defendants. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, claims Font-Santiago, a Spanish teacher who also coached girls’ basketball and softball, sexually abused her repeatedly during the 2021-2022 school years.
“Simply put, my client believes the evidence will show that she was sexually abused over a period of many months over her sophomore and junior year at Azle ISD by Mr. Font-Santiago, and that the school district covered it up,” said the plaintiff’s attorney in a statement obtained by local media.
Multiple Arrests
Font-Santiago, who was 31-32 years old during the alleged incidents, was arrested twice in 2025. His first arrest came on April 17 for improper relationship between educator and student. He was later arrested again on December 12 on charges of sexual assault of a child, according to court records.
The allegations against Font-Santiago are disturbing. Court documents allege he groomed and sexually abused the victim in his classroom at least three times per week from October/November 2021 through May 2022 — all on school premises while he was on duty as a teacher.
How could such alleged abuse continue for so long without intervention? That’s precisely what the lawsuit aims to address.
Allegations of Deliberate Indifference
The lawsuit takes aim not just at Font-Santiago but at the district’s response to the situation. Court filings allege Azle ISD showed “deliberate indifference” under Title IX by failing to act on prior reports of Font-Santiago’s misconduct. The complaint specifically cites that the district allowed Font-Santiago to continue coaching, including a softball game on April 17, 2025 — the same day allegations against him surfaced.
Azle Police identified Font-Santiago as a suspect in an improper relationship with a former student on April 18, 2025, according to a press release from the department.
The case has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Azle, a city of approximately 13,000 residents located northwest of Fort Worth.
District Response
The defendants aren’t taking the allegations lying down. Azle ISD, Superintendent Todd Smith, and former athletic director Rebecca Spurlock (who retired in January 2024) have all filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. Their defense rests on claims of lack of knowledge by appropriate persons and qualified immunity, according to legal documents.
But for the plaintiff and her supporters, the case represents something larger than just one alleged predator — it’s about a system they claim failed to protect a vulnerable student despite warning signs.
The case remains in its early stages, with a court date yet to be set. Meanwhile, Font-Santiago faces both criminal charges and this civil lawsuit, with potential consequences that could extend far beyond his own future to reshape policies and procedures within the district itself.
