Teacher, Brothers Face Sexual Assault Claims in Rockport Lawsuit

A Rockport-Fulton High School maritime science teacher and his two brothers sexually assaulted a minor student repeatedly over two years while school administrators failed to intervene despite early warnings, according to a civil lawsuit filed in Aransas County District Court.

The suit, filed May 1 by the parents of a minor identified only as J.D., names teacher Joshua Lee Nguyen, his twin brothers Brandon Nguyen and Brennen Nguyen, Rockport-Fulton Independent School District, High School Principal Jodi Carter, and Texas Coastal Academy, a nonprofit maritime program founded by Joshua Nguyen, as defendants. Plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding $10 million.

According to the petition, Joshua Nguyen began grooming J.D. when she was 14 or 15 years old, using his classroom authority and leadership of the after-school maritime program to gain access to the student and build trust with her parents. The alleged abuse continued until she was 17.

The petition alleges Joshua Nguyen and his brothers sexually assaulted and statutorily raped J.D. on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2025 at various locations. The filing further alleges the three men offered the minor to a third party for sexual purposes, conduct that prompted a law enforcement report and triggered a broader investigation into allegations of prostitution of a minor and sex trafficking.

Joshua Nguyen was arrested Dec. 22, 2025, and charged with sexual assault of a child and maintaining an improper educator-student relationship. He was released on a $100,000 bond. His teaching certificate has since been indefinitely suspended. Brandon and Brennen Nguyen remain under law enforcement investigation, according to the petition.

The lawsuit accuses Principal Carter of gross negligence, alleging she was informed of an illicit relationship between Nguyen and J.D. by both students and fellow teachers, yet failed to notify J.D.'s parents or report the conduct to law enforcement as required under Texas Family Code Section 261.101. The petition also alleges Carter was aware that Joshua Nguyen had installed personal cameras in his classroom, though the district lacked access to the footage.

RFISD is accused of continuing to employ Joshua Nguyen after becoming aware of an improper student relationship and of failing to adequately supervise, train, and discipline staff.

After being separated from the school district, Joshua Nguyen took a position at the Aransas County Navigation District.

The petition states J.D. suffers from severe anxiety, sleep disturbances, nightmares, social withdrawal, and school avoidance, and has begun trauma-informed therapy. Over 900 pages of data were recovered from her electronic devices during the criminal investigation.

The Buzbee Law Firm of Houston is representing the plaintiffs. Attorneys for the defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.

Cause No. 26-0085, Aransas County District Court.