Former Hewitt-Trussville band director dead after being accused of sexual misconduct

By Chris Basinger, Staff Reporter

COMMERCE, Texas–Michael Guzman, a former Hewitt-Trussville High School band director who was recently accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student has died.

The Tribune has confirmed with Texas A&M University–Commerce, where Guzman worked as the associate director of bands, that President Mark Rudin announced Guzman’s death on Friday in an email to students and staff at the university.

His death comes after a former student of his at Southwest Miami Senior High School wrote a public Facebook post on Thursday accusing Guzman of sexual misconduct while he worked as a band director at the school between 2008 to 2011.

Jackie Rodriquez claimed that Guzman had “groomed” her while she was a student in band and that their sexual relationship started when she was 15 years old.

“Like many, band was my safe space, and when I met him he was exactly what I needed,” Rodriguez wrote.

“He got close to me and became a safe haven for my problems and encouraged me. He fully took advantage of me and wanted to be my safety.”

She recounted messages that he would send her, some of which she posted, and wrote that Guzman also had a “folder of naked and lewd pictures” of Rodriguez, which his wife discovered during her senior year.

Rodriguez also claimed that Guzman “coerced” into signing a private Sallie Mae loan so she could go to the University of Alabama where he was pursuing his doctorate and posted screenshots of statements that appear to show Guzman as the co-signer of the loan.

She went on to say that she ended up with almost $40,000 she had to pay off by the time she graduated and that Guzman had asked her to take him off the loan prior to graduating.

“I ended the cycle of abuse and took control of my life. With this, I seek protection for other women that were victims,” Rodriguez wrote, saying that she suffered for years from the trauma of her experience.

She continued, “I hate how this affected me. I hate how it affected me financially and that I paid for all of that by myself after what he did. I hate that he could potentially still be out there doing things with no repercussions.”

Soon after Rodriguez made the original post, a GoFundMe was organized on her behalf seeking to “help Jackie reclaim the tuition money she was unfairly coerced into paying, as well as to cover any legal fees she may incur as she seeks justice.”

TAMUC President Rudin wrote in the announcement of Guzman’s death, “We understand this news and the allegations against Mr. Guzman are upsetting. We are committed to ensuring the safety, well-being, and integrity of everyone in our campus community and encourage members to come together at this time to help one another.”

He continued, “We understand that recent events may also have caused distress and concern within our community concerning instances of sexual abuse. Our hearts go out to anyone who has been affected by such reprehensible acts.”

From 2020 to 2023, Guzman worked as the band director at Hewitt-Trussville High School.

“Hewitt-Trussville High School and Trussville City Schools are saddened by the recent passing of former Band Director Michael Guzman,” Trussville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children.”

Martin said school officials were aware of the recent accusations from the former Florida student.

“It has been brought to our attention that recent accusations of sexual misconduct have been made by former non-Trussville students of Mr. Guzman,” Martin said. “Again, these allegations were not by TCS students and were not related to his employment in our school system. Nonetheless, upon hearing this, TCS immediately contacted our partners at the Trussville Police Department.”

Mr. Guzman tendered his resignation from HTHS in May of 2023.

“At no time has misconduct of a sexual nature been brought to the attention of TCS employees, and this was not the reason for his resignation,” Martin said.

Martin said TCS stands at the ready to support all students, regardless of circumstance, and encourages students and their families, past or present, to reach out if they experienced abuse.

The Tribune reached out to Southwest Miami Senior High School, which did not immediately respond.

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Originally published on June 1, 2024 at 12:49 p.m.