CELINA, Texas — Former Celina Independent School District teacher and coach Caleb Elliott has been officially indicted by a Collin County grand jury on multiple felony charges, including possession of child pornography, invasive visual recording, and sexual performance by a child.
Elliott, who previously taught and coached at Moore Middle School, is accused of secretly recording boys in the school’s locker rooms and showers. Police recovered illicit images and videos from his phone, and federal authorities previously indicted him on eight counts of sexual exploitation of children, alleging he coerced minors into producing sexually explicit material. Authorities say there are currently dozens of alleged victims.
Elliott was arrested multiple times in October and November 2025. Following his arrest, Moore Middle School’s principal resigned, and his father, Bill Elliott — longtime Celina ISD athletic director and head football coach — retired.
Civil lawsuits allege that Caleb Elliott coerced students into performing nude acts, such as jumping jacks and burpees, while secretly recording them. The lawsuits also claim Celina ISD was grossly negligent and prioritized the football program’s reputation over student safety.
Documents state that Elliott may have had a prior sexual relationship with a teenage student during the 2022–2023 school year at Celina High School. Instead of notifying law enforcement, the district allegedly transferred him to Moore Middle School in 2023.
Celina ISD has denied wrongdoing, citing state immunity, though a new Texas law — House Bill 4623 — removes sovereign immunity for sexual misconduct cases involving gross negligence or recklessness. The law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott and effective Sept. 1, 2025, has allowed victims’ families to pursue civil lawsuits against the district.
An 84-page third-party report found no conclusive evidence that staff knew of Elliott’s alleged crimes before his arrest but highlighted “systemic failures,” including pressure to hire Elliott due to his father’s influence and mismanagement in the athletic office. Some parents are now calling for school board resignations.
“On a weekly basis, we’re learning more about this predator,” said civil attorney Quentin Brogdon, who represents the families of nearly two dozen boys allegedly recorded by Elliott. “He is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
