Jacob Conrad De La Paz, 33, of Lafayette, Louisiana, United States is a former math teacher and track and field coach at St. Thomas More Catholic High School (STM) in Lafayette. He is originally from Cabot, Arkansas, USA.

While employed at a school in Cabot, De La Paz was found to have engaged in inappropriate communication with a student via text messaging in 2017. The Arkansas State Board of Education spent two years to complete an investigation and a hearing before imposing a 3-year probation on his license and fining him $250.

In August 2017, De La Paz applied for a math position with the Vermilion Parish School System in Louisiana. He disclosed that his Arkansas teaching certificate was under review for an allegation of texting a student at the time of application.

The laws that govern Louisiana certification also declared De La Paz eligible for employment. He underwent a criminal background check that came back with no criminal charges.

In September 2019, De La Paz applied for and received his Louisiana Department of Education certificate. He also received clearances from the department and the Arkansas Department of Education. 

Based on the Arkansas Department of Education clearance and the Louisiana Department of Education approval, De La Paz was hired on a temporary one-year only status. The Vermilion Parish School System personnel department verified the certifications.

On April 26, 2023, STM fired De La Paz because of a video of him saying sexually suggestive things to someone he says he tutors that circulated online. At around 6:00 p.m. on April 27, 2023, he was arrested in Youngsville, Louisiana by Department of Homeland Security agents with the help of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Currently, De La Paz is being held at the St. Martin Parish Jail in St. Martinville, Louisiana awaiting the U.S. Marshals Service. He was federally charged with enticing a minor to produce child pornography or child sexual assault material.