Police: Former New Braunfels teacher had sexual contact with female student

Editor's note: This article was edited on April 6, 2023, to remove the location of the alleged crimes and other details referenced in the police report. If you are a minor who is suffering from abuse or has been a victim of sexual assault — or if you know someone who has — please contact the Children's Advocacy Center of Comal County at 830-626-2543.

Police allege that a now-former New Braunfels High School teacher had sexual contact with a 17-year-old female student.

Bryant Shephard, age 41, has been charged with an improper relationship between educator and student.

The charge is a second-degree felony.

Bryant was released from the Comal County Jail on Tuesday, March 21 on $250,000 bond.

On March 2, a New Braunfels Police Department officer responded to NBHS.

A student had allegedly witnessed Shephard kissing another student, referred to in the officer’s report as Jane Doe, in a classroom on March 1.

The Herald-Zeitung obtained the officer’s report through a public records request.

The officer interviewed the student who said she witnessed the alleged act. The student reported the incident to school staff, according to the police report.

The NBPD officer “conducted a recorded voluntary interview” with Shephard.

In the interview, Shephard verified that he had kissed Jane Doe on March 1.

Police arrested Shephard in San Antonio on March 7.

Shephard was transferred into the Comal County Jail on March 15.

The NBISD website previously listed Shephard as a special education, math and inclusion teacher and assistant coach.

NBISD said that he became a New Braunfels High School teacher and the girls assistant soccer coach in August 2017.

New Braunfels Independent School District spokesperson Matt Jones said that as of March 2, Shephard was no longer a district employee.

Jones said the district was unaware of the alleged January incidents involving Shephard and a 17-year-old female student until the police investigation.

“We weren’t made aware of that until after she talked to the police,” Jones said.

In a letter to parents on March 2, school officials said that they were notified of the student’s allegations on March 1.

The school district notified police on March 2, according to NBPD.

Shephard was placed on administrative leave pending the police investigation.

Shephard’s arrest marked the third this school year of a Comal County educator on charges of an improper relationship with a student.

Former Canyon Lake High School teacher Devon Hooper was arrested in November.

She is accused of sending explicit photos and text messages to one of her male students.

Another former Canyon Lake HS teacher and coach, Orlando Naumann, was arrested in February on charges of an improper relationship with a 15-year-old female student and possession with intent to promote child pornography.

Both Hooper and Naumann resigned during the police investigations.

Former Canyon High School teacher Emily Anderson pleaded guilty in late 2022 to having sex with a 15-year-old student in a biology classroom closet during the 2020-2021 school year.