Winnsboro, TX - The Winnsboro Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Saturday to place Superintendent Aaron Nation on administrative leave after his arrest in connection with an alleged cover-up of multiple child abuse incidents. The board made the decision during a special-called meeting following a closed executive session where members consulted with legal counsel.
Nation requested to be placed on leave, and trustees accepted that request. Following the decision, Winnsboro High School Principal Cody Holloway was appointed acting superintendent.
Leadership Changes Across the District
According to a district statement released last week, Kim Nash, principal of Winnsboro Junior High, will temporarily lead Winnsboro High School. The assistant principal of Winnsboro Junior High will now serve as acting principal of the junior high campus during Nash’s interim assignment.
The leadership transitions come as the district faces mounting scrutiny after the arrests of several current and former employees accused of failing to report suspected child abuse in a timely manner.
Multiple Arrests and Allegations of Concealment
Nation was taken into custody on Monday, along with former Superintendent Brian “David” Wilcox and his wife, former speech-language pathology assistant Ashley Wilcox. Nation faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal. David Wilcox is charged with two counts of failure to report child abuse, while Ashley Wilcox faces one count of the same charge.
Arrest affidavits allege that the three knowingly failed to report accusations of inappropriate relationships between district employees and students during the 2024–25 school year. Investigators say a coach and a female substitute teacher engaged in sexual relationships with students and that district officials delayed notifying authorities.
Under the Texas Family Code, educators and other mandated reporters must report suspected abuse within 48 hours.
Prior Arrests Linked to the Investigation
Two additional arrests last year are tied to the same investigation. On June 5, 2025, former assistant football coach and economics teacher Nicholas Gabriele was arrested for an improper relationship with a student. Jared Alan Lancaster was arrested later that month for failure to make a required report, accused of attempting to conceal Gabriele’s alleged misconduct.
Documents claim that both David Wilcox and Aaron Nation refused to provide investigators with call and text message records as required by a July 2025 grand jury subpoena.
Allegations of Interference With Investigations
Investigators say Nation and Wilcox placed former Winnsboro ISD Police Chief Heath Guy on leave during the probe into a substitute teacher accused of sending explicit photos to a student. According to court documents, the two delayed reporting that case until June 2, 2025, even though they were informed of it on May 29.
Officials also state that Nation refused to surrender his district-issued phone to investigators and later performed a factory reset on the device, erasing all data before turning it in.
Ongoing Investigation
The Texas Rangers continue to investigate the allegations involving Winnsboro ISD employees. District officials have not commented beyond their public statement regarding administrative changes, citing the ongoing nature of the criminal cases.
Holding School Leaders Accountable: Texas Sexual Abuse Lawyer Explains Legal Options for Families
Families grappling with the trauma of a child being sexually abused by a school superintendent often face a maze of legal questions and emotional upheaval at the same time. In this interview, experienced Texas sexual abuse lawyer Anjali Nigam explains the legal options available to parents and survivors, including potential civil claims, accountability for school leadership, and how families can begin taking steps to protect their rights and their children’s future.
Laurence Banville, Esq.: For a student who has been sexually abused in a Texas school and believes a superintendent helped hide what happened, what are the main legal options they might have against that superintendent?
Anjali Nigam, Esq.: A survivor may have both civil and, in some cases, supportive avenues related to criminal proceedings, but the primary path for compensation is a civil lawsuit. In Texas, that can include claims such as negligence, gross negligence, and in some circumstances civil claims based on violations of federal law, such as Title IX, when a school official with authority is deliberately indifferent to known sexual harassment or abuse.
Banville: Survivors often ask whether they can pursue claims not only against the individual abuser, but also against leadership who allegedly failed to act. How does that typically work under Texas law?
Nigam: The person who directly committed the abuse can be sued for assault or related intentional torts, but a superintendent or other administrator may face liability if they knew or should have known about the abuse and did not act reasonably to protect students. That can include failing to report under the Texas Family Code’s 48-hour reporting rule, ignoring red flags, or interfering with an investigation, all of which may support claims that the official’s conduct contributed to the harm.
Banville: People are also concerned about time limits. What should victims and their families know about statutes of limitations in Texas school sex abuse cases?
Nigam: Texas has extended limitation periods for many child sex abuse claims, but the exact deadline depends on the survivor’s age, the type of claim, and whether the case involves public entities or federal causes of action. Because these timelines can be complex, survivors should speak with a lawyer as soon as they are ready so the attorney can analyze which deadlines apply and make sure no filing window is missed.
Banville: For a survivor who is hesitant to come forward, what first steps do you usually recommend from a legal standpoint?
Nigam: A confidential consultation with a lawyer experienced in school sex abuse cases is often the safest first step. In that setting, the survivor or their family can discuss what happened, review any documentation or messages, learn how reporting obligations work, and talk through possible outcomes—such as civil claims for damages, coordination with law enforcement, and measures designed to protect the student from retaliation—before deciding how to move ahead.
Free Legal Help for Families Now
Families affected by sexual abuse in a school setting do not have to navigate this alone, and timely action can make a meaningful difference in protecting a child’s rights and future. If your child was harmed or you suspect a superintendent or school leader failed to act, contact our legal team today for a free, confidential consultation to learn about your options and take the next step toward accountability.
