Former principal pleads guilty to failing to report abuse | Dallas Texas News Now

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[00:00:00]I'm Chris Lawrence with your top stories in North Texas. A massive apartment fire in Oakliff is under investigation after Dallas Fire Rescue says an explosion triggered the blaze. Officials tell us at least four people went to the hospital and the total number of casualties remains unclear. Searches continue through the 23 unit building.

[00:00:20]WFAA was on scene all afternoon Thursday speaking with residents. like the top floor of the apartment, it like destroyed and shattered into our apartment downstairs.

[00:00:30]>> And when I got there, I seen a little girl climbing out the debris.

[00:00:34]>> We lost our pets. We lost everything we owned.

[00:00:41]>> Crews finally got that fire under control around 3:30 in the afternoon, and the Red Cross has been working to assist those displaced by the explosion.

[00:00:51]A former principal in Arlington is banned from ever working in education again. And Newman International Academyy's former police chief told Scoop Jefferson it's a victory for student safety.

[00:01:03]Child advocates call this major update in the case here at Newman International Academy a win-win and hope it sends a message to wouldbe predators.

[00:01:13]>> The detective called me today and said, "Hey Chief, um we we got a good win on this one." Former school police chief Matt Enoviaak is sharing what he calls a win after investigating child sex abuse.

[00:01:26]He retired from Newman International Academy in Arlington, but not before getting to the bottom of allegations from two female students, victims he calls brave for telling what happened.

[00:01:37]>> You had victims that were to say in the range of 15 to to 17 years of age. It doesn't undo what happened to them. In February 2025, investigators obtained arrest warrants for principal Rick Adams, charged with failing to report abuse and tampering with evidence. Now, more than a year later, >> Adams plead guilty today on that.

[00:01:57]Received seven years, and he's no longer allowed to be employed in education.

[00:02:00]>> WFAA reached out to Principal Adams, but no response. And Koviaak says at the center of the case, Newman Academy instructional aid ruled Barbie. Court of records show that he pleaded guilty earlier this year to having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

[00:02:16]>> He got seven years on that sex offender status and unable to be employed in education for the rest of his life.

[00:02:21]>> The district attorney dismissed charges against a third school employee arrested for child grooming according to Enco.

[00:02:28]Either way, he says after surviving abuse himself as a child, students here at Newman Academy can feel safe at school. We've taken two predators, two bad people, and we've made it really hard for them to be around our children.

[00:02:41]>> In Arlington, I'm Scoop Jefferson.

[00:02:44]>> A heartbroken father is coming face to face with the man who killed his son. As Luke Clary reports, the man who shot officer Jacob Candonza just learned his fate in court.

[00:02:54]>> Get music ready for a party.

[00:02:56]>> The kind of place that lights your eyes, where photos line the walls and memories hang in the air.

[00:03:02]>> Means everything to me. I I love the ring.

[00:03:06]And in every corner of his roller rink in Cedar Hill, >> all skate.

[00:03:11]>> David Candidosa sees his son Jacob.

[00:03:14]>> He grew up here. I mean, he was here every day. And it was just a shock, just a devastating shock to uh everyone that this tragedy happened.

[00:03:23]>> On December 8th, 2024, 28-year-old Terrell Officer Jacob Candinosa was shot and killed during a traffic stop just 5 months into the job. Nearly a year and a half later today, the shooter Darien Johnson pleaded guilty and David saw him face to face.

[00:03:40]>> I told him, uh, I don't even think you realize what you've done. I don't think you do. You know, Jacob, uh, he was really one of the good ones that that uh, you took from us.

[00:03:52]>> David's Marquee told the town how sentencing went.

[00:03:55]>> I hope he he's going to uh, think about it. Your support brings strength to the Canona family.

[00:04:03]>> Jacob's law enforcement family showed how deeply he's still missed.

[00:04:07]>> I just had just all this pride that that Jacob could bring so many people together.

[00:04:12]>> The tributes kept coming.

[00:04:13]>> Hey boy.

[00:04:14]>> Enough to fill a display case at his favorite place.

[00:04:17]>> That's my boy.

[00:04:18]>> A place filled with memories. A place David says he could never leave.

[00:04:23]>> I'll do this forever. The longer I'm here, the longer this box will stay up here. I ain't never gonna sell >> in Cedar Hill. I'm Luke Clair.

[00:04:33]>> A new law is taking effect in Texas and it impacts companies that operate self-driving cars. As transportation reporter Janelle Fort reports, it marks a major step towards statewide oversight.

[00:04:45]>> Well, look, this is really the state stepping in as more self-driving cars start sharing Texas roads with the rest of us. So starting today, companies that operate these self-driving vehicles, so think Whimo and Zuks, will have to get authorization from the Texas DMV. To get that authorization, the vehicle has to meet a list of requirements. It has to be capable of following all Texas traffic and motor vehicle laws. It's required to have a recording device on board. It self-driving system has to comply with federal laws. And it has to be able to reach what's called a minimal risk condition if the system fails.

[00:05:20]basically get itself to a safer state instead of becoming a bigger danger. It also has to be registered entitled in Texas and have the proper insurance. And companies have to give DPS a plan showing first responders how to interact with the vehicle during emergencies or crashes. The authorization does not expire, but the state can revoke, suspend, cancel, or restrict it. The change comes as safety conversations around self-driving vehicles have really ramped up recently. Whimo just paused its services in several cities, including here in Dallas, after safety concerns tied to demonstrations and vandalism involving some of its vehicles. There have also been national concerns about self-driving vehicles blocking emergency responders and in some cases not properly reacting around school buses. Safety advocates say this new Texas law is a good first step, but some are still arguing that there needs to be stronger federal standards, especially as this technology continues to expand. I'll send it back to you in the studio.

[00:06:15]>> Thanks, Janelle. The high cost of World Cup tickets is the subject of a new investigation. Chris Sodigy is tracking the latest backlash over prices.

[00:06:25]>> If you haven't secured World Cup tickets yet, there will be another chance to do so with a surprise ticket drop this morning. All this as an investigation is underway into FIFA's ticket sale practices. FIFA says that surprise drop will happen at 10:00 this morning. this one through their FIFA rewards platform where fans redeem points. It is the third surprise ticket drop and follows a lot of fan complaints about the high cost of tickets. It was revealed in an Arlington City Council meeting last week that of the 700,000 total tickets over the nine matches here in Arlington, only 35 to 50% had been sold. And it's not just a concern here. The attorneys general in New York and New Jersey have subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into how they've gone about selling tickets for the World Cup amid claims that fans are being deceived. FIFA has maintained the prices are market driven. I did check this morning just to see what the prices are on the FIFA resale platform for the opening game here in Arlington.

[00:07:24]Netherlands versus Japan. A seat on the last row in the corner of the upper deck. One of the worst seats in the house. still going to cost you around $600. So, we'll see if the stadium is full on the inside. On the outside, it's beginning to take shape. They're covering up all the AT&T signage because it will be called Dallas Stadium during the World Cup since corporate sponsors are not permitted on World Cup venues.

[00:07:50]I'm Chris Sadigi. Now, back to you.

[00:07:52]>> And here we are just about two weeks away from the opening ceremony. And those are your headlines from North Texas.