Southwest Key Programs said the former employee accused of attempting to obtain sexually explicit material from a migrant girl was fired nearly a year ago.
“This employee was terminated nearly a year ago based on inappropriate comments made during a conversation with a coworker,” Southwest Key Programs said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit arrested 31-year-old Alberto Rodriguez, of Brownsville, and charged him with online solicitation of a minor under 14.
Southwest Key Programs, a nonprofit that holds migrant children and is funded by the federal government, said it investigated inappropriate comments made by Rodriguez and fired him.
“We investigated this incident and made a decision to terminate his employment based on this employee’s lack of prudent judgment. We also immediately reported this incident to licensing authorities to follow proper protocol,” the statement said. “This person was not employed with us when the allegations he was arrested for occurred. We strictly forbid any contact with minors after they leave our care.”
District Attorney Luis V. Saenz said Tuesday that the victim in the case was being held at Southwest Key Programs when Rodriguez met her.
