SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4) – A staff member at Granite Park Junior High school has been arrested after allegedly sexually abusing and becoming pregnant with a 14-year-old student’s child.

Kimberly Cruz-Romero, 29, was booked into Salt Lake County Jail facing a first-degree felony charge of rape of a child, a first-degree felony charge of forcible sodomy, two third-degree felony charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, and a speeding infraction.

Police with the Granite School District PD said through an investigation that started on Dec. 16, they learned of a 14-year-old student reportedly having sexual relations with an attendance tracker, identified as Romero, at the junior high.

The student allegedly reported that he had been abused by Cruz-Romero on several occasions, including in her office at the school and at a Salt Lake City hotel and she eventually became pregnant with his child. The student reportedly told police was threatened by gang members belonging to a gang Romero is allegedly a part of for wanting to end the relationship.

Police say they found text messages from Cruz-Romero’s phone number to the victim’s phone, as well as photos and video that support the allegations throughout the investigation.

Police said while taking Cruz-Romero into custody, she allegedly told police she recently had surgery for a miscarriage, which police believe took place in Mexico about a week ago.

In a statement made to ABC4 by the Granite School District, officials said:

“Granite School District was recently notified regarding some disturbing information from the Granite Police Department, wherein a part-time hourly employee (attendance tracker), Kimberly Cruz Romero, was arrested on some very serious charges involving an inappropriate relationship with a student at Granite Park Junior High. We are still gathering information on this matter, but Romero has been terminated as a result of these charges. Romero has only been employed with the district and Granite Park since the start of this current school year. Student safety is our primary concern, and we take these charges very seriously. There is currently no indication from Granite Police that any other students were involved.”

Granite School District