TEXARKANA, Texas–A former Texas High School library aide accused of sexual
misconduct with a 16-year-old boy was formally indicted for multiple
felonies by a Bowie County grand jury Thursday.
Cynthia Christina Gerschwiler, 36, allegedly met the boy while she was
working for the Texarkana Independent School District but the sexual abuse
reportedly occurred after she had left her position there, according to a
probable cause affidavit.
A Bowie County grand jury issued an indictment Thursday charging
Gerschwiler with two counts of sexual assault of a child and a single count
of child grooming. She faces two to ten years in prison if convicted of
child grooming. If convicted of sexual assault of a child, Gerschwiler
faces two to 20 years in prison on each count.
Gerschwiler allegedly provided the boy with rides to school, snacks, rides
to friend’s houses and other gifts, the affidavit said. Gerschwiler
reportedly came to the attention of law enforcement after the teen told a
male relative.
In texts obtained by Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers
investigators, Gerschwiler allegedly communicated with the boy like a
girlfriend, telling him, “about how much she loved him, missing his touch,
her missing touching his skin, and having her face against [the boy’s]
face, the affidavit said.
The affidavit alleges that the misconduct occurred in the summer of last
year. Gerschwiler’s LinkedIn page shows that she left TISD in June after
working there a year.
Gerschwiler allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the boy in her car
outside of his grandmother’s residence in Texarkana, Texas, and in an empty
house, according to the affidavit.
Gerschwiler has been held in the Bowie County jail since her arrest in
November. Her bail is set at $500,000.
The case has been assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.