Llano ISD said the teacher was removed from its substitute list after the district reported the allegation.
LLANO, Texas — A former Llano Independent School District substitute teacher was arrested Wednesday after school officials reported an alleged improper relationship involving a student, authorities said.
Angela Louise Palmares, 27, was charged with improper relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony. The case began after Llano ISD notified the Llano County Sheriff’s Office of the allegation April 21. Authorities said investigators conducted interviews, collected evidence and obtained an arrest warrant before Palmares was taken into custody in Bell County.
The sheriff’s office said the district removed Palmares from its substitute list after the allegation was reported. Llano ISD Superintendent Mac Edwards told families in a letter that the district learned of an allegation at Llano High School involving inappropriate communication with students through a social media platform outside the school day. Edwards said the district contacted the Llano County Sheriff’s Office and was cooperating with law enforcement and the Texas Education Agency. “The district takes all allegations of this nature extremely seriously and remains committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students,” Edwards said.
Authorities have released few details about the alleged conduct. They have not publicly identified the student, released the student’s age or said how many students may be involved. The sheriff’s office said Palmares was found in Bell County after investigators worked with the Texas Department of Public Safety Fusion Center and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office. She was taken into custody without incident. Jail records cited in news reports listed her bond at $150,000. Officials had not said by Friday whether Palmares had entered a plea or retained an attorney.
The district said Palmares had not worked for Llano ISD since April 2. Edwards said parents of students directly affected by the situation had been contacted. He said the district could not release more information because of personnel and student privacy rules. State records cited by Texas Scorecard showed a Texas teaching certificate had not been issued to Palmares, though substitute teaching rules can differ from full teacher certification requirements. Llano ISD serves students in Llano County, northwest of Austin, and operates campuses including Llano High School.
The charge is tied to Texas law covering educator-student misconduct. Improper relationship between an educator and a student is a felony offense when prosecutors allege a school employee engaged in prohibited conduct with a student enrolled at the school where the employee worked. A second-degree felony in Texas can carry two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if a defendant is convicted. The charge is an accusation, and Palmares is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The sheriff’s office said its Criminal Investigation Division opened the case after receiving the report from Llano ISD. Investigators said they moved quickly from the school district’s report to evidence collection and an arrest warrant. They did not describe the evidence in detail or say whether additional charges could follow. The agency said the case remains active. Authorities also said they were seeking information from people who may have knowledge related to the investigation, while the district said it would continue to cooperate with outside agencies.
The case adds to a series of recent educator misconduct investigations in Texas and other states that have drawn attention to digital communication between school employees and students. In this case, officials have described the alleged contact as happening through a social media platform and outside the school day. They have not named the platform or released the content of the messages. The limited public record leaves several points unclear, including when the alleged messages began, who first reported them and whether the alleged contact happened only online.
As of Friday, Palmares remained charged with one second-degree felony, and the Llano County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation was ongoing. The next public milestone is expected to come through court filings, a bond hearing or another update from investigators.
Author note: Last updated April 25, 2026.