Filipina teacher in New Mexico arrested for alleged sex with teenage student

A Filipina special-education teacher at Española Valley High School in New Mexico is facing a rape charge after she was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage student several months ago.

Makana Masacayan, 26, who is on a work visa, was arrested last June 15 and booked in the Rio Arriba County jail in Tierra Amarilla.

According court documents, New Mexico State Police began investigating Masacayan after the 16-year-old boy told his juvenile probation officer he had proof on his cell phone he had engaged in a sexual relationship with her.

A state police officer seized the cell phone and scheduled a forensic interview for the boy. The boy said he had sex with her at least once, and alleged that the teacher had made advances toward him on multiple occasions, including giving him a “lap dance” on a chair in a classroom closet and touching his genitals. He believed she had behaved similarly with other students.

The boy and Masacayan allegedly communicated with each other on Instagram and through text messages. Masacayan claimed that her social media addresses had been hacked with false messages.

Española Valley High School Principal Jeffrey Sagor said school officials investigated rumors of inappropriate interaction and determined the claims were false. But on learning of Masayan’s arrest, Española Public Schools said in a statement that Masacayan was from any position that involved interaction with students.