South Valley school director speaks out after being cleared of boxcutter incident

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A grand jury has cleared a South Valley charter school director of any wrongdoing after he was accused of holding a box cutter blade to a student’s neck.

Back in April, Richard Perea, the executive director of the South Valley Academy with 30 years of experience in education, questioned how he ended up behind bars.

It started when a 17-year-old student was accused of vaping in the bathroom. Perea said he called him into his office the next day, and while no vape was found, the student turned over a box cutter. He allegedly said he used it for ranch work after school.

Perea said he could have called the police and that bringing a box cutter to school can be dangerous and threatening. Two teacher assistants witnessed what happened, but the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) said they had a different story.

Perea claimed it was just a 15 to 20-minute conversation with the student, but the teacher assistants recalled differently.

One claimed Perea said: “Stand up, I’m going to show you what a Chicano man does.”

The other one stated: “He opened the blade, put it in his right hand, and then with his arm, he put it around his neck.”

Perea maintains he never held the box cutter to the student’s neck.

Jessica Garate (KRQE): Did you get near him at any point?
Perea: I did stand up and express to him, certain situations, that you know, hey, look this is a box cutter. It could be dangerous.

Deputies charged Perea with aggravated assault and child abuse charges, and he spent four nights in jails.

BCSO : So, you have three individuals in a room with a fourth one, and three people said it happened exactly the same way.

Jess: Why would these two teachers’ aide[s] say that though?
Perea: I couldn’t tell you.

Perea claims one of the teacher’s assistant couldn’t see what was happening and was texting the whole time. The other TA testified in front of a grand jury in May, saying it didn’t happen. The grand jury cleared him of any wrongdoing.

BCSO said they’re disappointed. Perea expressed the time has been incredibly painful, including running into a former student in jail, who is now a corrections officer.

The school did not return KRQE’s calls on Friday, and Perea is on paid leave.

KRQE spoke to the student’s mother , who said she was angry at the outcome. BCSO also said they did try to get an interview with Perea before the arrest, but he declined.

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