Theodore Mendoza, 33, appeared in front of an El Paso County judge to be advised of his rights on Friday on allegations that he possessed child sexual abuse material.

Academy District 20 sent out a notice to parents on Friday about Mendoza because he worked in 16 locations as a special education behavior tutor. He was employed from Aug. 25 until Feb. 12 and a district spokesperson could not answer whether his alleged offense related to his departure.

The locations Mendoza had access to students were:

• Air Academy High School
• Aspire Learning Academy
• Aspen Valley High School
• Bridges Program
• Discovery Canyon Campus
• Douglass Valley Elementary School
• Rampart High School
• Ranch Creek Elementary School
• Rockrimmon Elementary School
• The da Vinci Academy
• Village High School
• Woodmen-Roberts Elementary School

Colorado Springs police arrested Mendoza without incident at his residence near the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus on Thursday, according to a blotter entry by police. A search warrant was simultaneously executed to recover additional evidence related to the investigation.

Judge Douglas Miles described the evidence as “very strong” against Mendoza at his advisement hearing and set his bond at $150,000, which had not been posted as of early Friday evening.

Mendoza’s LinkedIn page claims he was previously employed with the district as an “SSN paraeducater” from October 2024 until January of this year. He previously worked in similar positions with the Fremont RE-1 District.

On his page, Mendoza has a link to a website offering 50 ways to help families prevent child abuse at the end of his about section.

Since departing D-20, he has worked as a program support coordinator with the Griffith Centers, according to his LinkedIn profile.