Wyatt Cornelius, a former teacher and coach at Camino Real Middle School in Las Cruces, pleaded guilty Monday to child solicitation by an electronic device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the Dona Ana County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Plea ends planned jury trial
The change-of-plea hearing took place in the courtroom of Judge Richard M. Jacquez. Cornelius had been scheduled for a jury trial that was to begin in November but instead entered his plea this week. He has been held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center since his April arrest; a judge earlier denied bond or release because of the seriousness of the allegations.
Authorities arrested Cornelius on April 22 after a teenage student reported what investigators described as an improper relationship. Court filings and the district attorney’s announcement show that prosecutors initially charged Cornelius with criminal sexual contact of a minor, child solicitation by an electronic device and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Additional allegations and timeline
In July, prosecutors added two more counts of criminal sexual contact after a second teenage victim came forward. According to the district attorney’s statement, the alleged abuse occurred between September 2025 and February 2026. Cornelius had worked for Las Cruces Public Schools since being hired on July 1, 2006, and the district terminated his employment on May 22, 2026.
The case file indicates Cornelius remained in custody from the date of his arrest and that the charges were handled through the county’s criminal court system. The district attorney’s office announced the plea but did not release additional comment on sentencing or whether the plea resolves all counts in the pending indictment.
- Arrest: April 22, 2026
- Employment: Hired July 1, 2006; terminated May 22, 2026
- Alleged misconduct period: September 2025–February 2026
- Initial charges: Criminal sexual contact of a minor; child solicitation by electronic device; contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Additional counts added: Two counts of criminal sexual contact (July 2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Detention | Dona Ana County Detention Center since arrest |
| Court | Judge Richard M. Jacquez |
| Plea | Child solicitation by electronic device; contributing to delinquency of a minor |
Public and legal implications
The plea resolves the immediate question of whether the case would proceed to a November jury trial, but it leaves open critical issues for victims, the school district and the community — including what sentence the former teacher will receive and whether prosecutors will pursue additional penalties or restitution. The district’s decision to terminate Cornelius in late May followed his arrest and the initial allegations; school officials have said little publicly about the internal response beyond that action.
Cases involving school employees and alleged sexual misconduct frequently trigger broader institutional reviews: investigators and districts often examine policies governing employee conduct, background checks and reporting procedures to determine whether additional safeguards are necessary. In this case, the addition of charges after a second victim came forward underscores the potential for multiple survivors to emerge as investigations proceed.
Prosecutors in Dona Ana County will now prepare sentencing recommendations and any supporting victim impact statements for the court. The district attorney’s office released the plea information but did not furnish details on agreed-upon terms or a sentencing date at the time of the announcement.
As the matter moves toward sentencing, the legal process will provide the public with a clearer record of the conduct the plea covers and the consequences imposed under New Mexico law.
Readers with information relevant to the case or concerns about student safety are encouraged to follow statements from the Dona Ana County District Attorney and Las Cruces Public Schools as official updates become available.
