Former Rockwall ISD teacher gets prison time for preying on eighth-grader

A former Rockwall ISD middle school teacher who sent sexually explicit emails to an eighth-grader has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to the Rockwall County district attorney’s office.

The Heath Department of Public Safety arrested Marc Allison, 50, in October 2019 after the student reported abuse to a school resource officer, the district attorney’s office said.

The victim told the officer that Allison, who taught orchestra at Cain Middle School, touched her inappropriately, bought her a sex toy and also brought syringes to school to “draw and drink her blood,” according to the district attorney’s office.

After Allison’s arrest, Rockwall ISD notified parents that school officials learned in July 2019 of concerns about Allison’s “conduct that violated board policy.”

He was put on administrative leave during the district’s investigation and wasn’t allowed on campuses, the district said in its email to parents, adding that the situation also was reported to the Texas Education Agency.

Allison, who pleaded guilty Thursday, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for online solicitation of a minor.

He was also sentenced to 10 years’ probation following his prison sentence for indecency with a child and improper relationship between an educator and student.

Allison’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentencing.

Allison will be subject to serving a 20-year prison sentence if he doesn’t comply with the terms of his probation, and he must register as a sex offender, the district attorney’s office said.

The victim’s family agreed to the terms of Allison’s plea bargain, according to the district attorney’s office.

“Bad people can hide in plain sight,” Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper said in a written statement. “Please take an opportunity to sit your children down and talk about inappropriate behavior. Make sure they know that they can always talk to a trusted adult if they are made to feel uncomfortable in any situation — even at school.”