A Syracuse elementary school administrator is facing charges after being found in a vehicle with a 15-year-old student and a bottle of alcohol.
Police say officers responded around 7:00 p.m. October 10, to a report of an adult possibly drinking with an underage student in a parked vehicle at the Corcoran High School parking lot. Upon arrival, officers found 54-year-old Jaime Perez-Garcia, a vice principal at H.W. Smith Elementary School, and a 15-year-old female inside a pickup truck. Investigators reported finding a bottle of alcohol and two shot glasses in the vehicle.
The student told detectives that she and Perez-Garcia had been exchanging texts and phone calls but denied any physical relationship.
Perez-Garcia was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawful Dealing with a Child in the First Degree. The investigation remains ongoing.
Syracuse City School District statement:
“The district was notified by the Syracuse Police Department on Saturday, October 11, 2025, about the arrest of one of our employees. After being notified, the district immediately placed the employee on administrative leave. We continue to work closely with Syracuse Police as they continue their active investigation. We understand this news regarding the arrest of a school administrator may be upsetting. We encourage all families to have open conversations with their children and report any situation that seems concerning or suspicious to law enforcement right away.”
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