Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) –A former NM middle school teacher has admitted that he raped one of his students after fostering a secret relationship with the victim through text messages and social media. Leonard Romero pled guilty in a packed San Miguel District courtroom Tuesday. The former Las Vegas middle school teacher taught at Memorial Middle School until 2023 when he was accused of have a sexual relationship with a teen student. He was arrested by the NM Department of Justice in 2024. Romero pled guilty to four counts of sexual penetration as a school employee and one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor. Romero’s sentencing is expected in the next three months. He is facing up to nine years in prison.
