Who Is Makana Masacayan? Española Valley High Arrest

Makana Masacayan (aka Maria Masacayan) is a 26 year old woman from Philippines. Masacayan worked as a teacher at Española Valley High School in Española, New Mexico. New Mexico State Police have accused Masacayan of sexually abusing a student.

Makana Masacayan Allegations

Masacayan Arrested, Accused Of Abuse. “According to a criminal complaint filed in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court, New Mexico State Police began investigating Masacayan after the 16-year-old boy told his juvenile probation officer he had proof on his cellphone he had engaged in a sexual relationship with her. A state police officer seized the cellphone and scheduled a forensic interview for the boy. In a talk with the forensic interviewer earlier this month, the boy described interactions with Masacayan and said he had sex with her at least once, the complaint said. The teacher had made advances toward him on multiple occasions, the boy said, including giving him a “lap dance” on a chair in a classroom closet and touching his genitals.” [Santa Fe New Mexican]

Alleged Victim Reportedly Claimed Masacayan Had Other Victims. “The boy said he believed Masacayan had behaved similarly with other students, a state police investigator wrote in the complaint. The boy and Masacayan communicated with each other on Instagram and through text messages, he told the forensic interviewer. State police Agent Wyatt Harwell wrote in the complaint he spoke with Española Valley High School Principal Jeffrey Sagor, who said the school was aware of rumors about the teacher having “inappropriate contact” with students.” [Yahoo]

Victim Claims He First Kissed Masacayan After Basketball Game. “This all came to light when a 16-year-old student at the high school told his probation officer about his relationship with Masacayan. He told the officer that they met at a high school basketball game, and later that night, they kissed. The student says another day, he picked her up in his truck, they got food, and had sex in his truck near a movie theater.” [KRQE]

Masacayan Accused Of Giving Students Lap Dances. “The student said Masacayan made advances toward him on multiple occasions, the boy said, including giving him a “lap dance” on a chair in a classroom closet and touching his genitals.” [IB Times]

Report: Masacayan Denied Allegations, Claimed Instagram Was Hacked. “The arrest affidavit states that the school principal heard rumors of this and looked into it but dismissed it when Masacayan told them the rumors stemmed from her Instagram being hacked. School officials never contacted the police. Masacayan started at Española Valley High School this year and is in the country under a work visa.” [KRQE]

Española Public Schools: Internal Investigation Of Masacayn Underway. “An internal investigation had already been started by [Española Public Schools] and will continue in cooperation with the pending law enforcement investigation. Should the allegations be substantiated, the district will take strong and appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.” [Española Public Schools Statement]