Plano teacher arrested in child sex abuse case, police say

Plano police arrested 64-year-old Paul Campbell on Wednesday and charged him with continuous sexual abuse of a child after investigators linked allegations involving an 8-year-old second grader to Brinker Elementary School in Plano.

Police said the child’s parents contacted authorities over the July 4 holiday weekend after the student made an outcry to a family member. That disclosure triggered the criminal investigation that led to a warrant, and Campbell was taken into custody in the Plano ISD administration building parking lot.

Campbell had worked at Brinker Elementary for more than 25 years, making the arrest especially unsettling for families who have long associated his name with the school. Investigators said the alleged abuse happened multiple times on campus during the past school year. Brinker Elementary is located at 3800 Clark Parkway in Plano, and the campus is currently in summer closure, with the district’s public calendar showing July summer-hours notices.

Plano Independent School District said it is fully cooperating with the Plano Police Department as the investigation continues. Detectives also asked anyone with similar experiences involving Campbell to contact the Plano Police Department, a sign that investigators have not ruled out additional victims or witnesses.

The case lands in a state system that places legal responsibility on school employees to report abuse. Texas Family Code Section 261.101 requires immediate reporting when someone has reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused or neglected, and Texas Education Code Section 38.004 requires school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies requiring employees to make those reports.

Collin County has also seen how severe these cases can become once they reach court. In a 2021 continuous sexual abuse of a child case, the Collin County District Attorney’s Office announced a 50-year sentence without parole.

For Plano parents, the arrest centers attention on the safeguards meant to protect children inside classrooms, how staff concerns are reported, and how quickly school leaders and police can act when a child discloses abuse involving a trusted adult on campus. Detectives say the investigation remains active.