Local News

Magician Accused Of Taking Child From School

Parents Talk Exclusively To CBS 11

LEWISVILLE (CBS 11 News/ AP) ― A Dallas-based magician who performs in Las Vegas stands accused of kidnapping a Lewisville student from her classroom.

Daniel Catarino Reyes was released from the Denton County Jail on a $200,000 bond Thursday. He has yet to return to his parent's house, and no one has heard from him.

Police arrested Reyes and raided his parent's house Wednesday after the girl's parents reported the alleged crime. Computers and other possible evidence were removed from the home.

According to reports, the girl said she was one of four Creekside Elementary students Reyes selected to be his assistant during a scheduled show later in the day.

The children were taken from their classrooms, but three were sent back to class.

Cassie Kelly said her daughter was one of the girls pulled from the class. But she said Reyes sent her child back because she didn't know her new home address.

The parents of the 9-year-old who did go with Reyes said the 22-year-old magician took the student to his house, which is near the school. They said she was videotaped, blindfolded and asked sexually explicit questions.

"He suggested things to her. He held her in a position that was not good. He blindfolded her and laid her on the floor," said the girl's mother, who did not wish to be identified. "I'm sure you can all imagine what he was doing."

The girl's parents say she was returned to school physically unharmed.

"I'm just glad she came back to us. I try not to think about the other possible outcomes that could have happened," the girl's father said.

Parents say they are outraged at Reyes and school administrators, who they said were unaware the student had been taken off school property by a stranger.

"He just went to the teacher and said, 'Hey. I've got permission from the principle to pull out these four girls,'" said the girl's father.

Reyes, a former student at the school, was a familiar figure to students and teachers "because for several years he has given an end-of-the-year magic show," Lewisville school district spokeswoman Karen Permetti said.

He was not scheduled to perform a show that day, but had stopped by and signed in at the main office to visit a former teacher, Permetti said.

"According to my daughter, the teachers were really caught off guard that they were not aware of a magic show and just let the kids go," said Kelly.

In a letter sent to parents, Principal Steve Polzer said the school district is cooperating with police.

"During his visit, he escorted a student off campus without school or parent permission," Polzer wrote. "I can appreciate how you must feel after seeing media reports concerning this incident. We know your child's safety is your number one priority."

Thursday, Lewisville ISD released the following statement: "Currently, the district is reviewing procedures to ensure that such an event cannot happen again."

Reyes allegedly told the girl not to report the incident to school officials.

"I want to plead to any other children out there, that if anything ever happened to you, speak up. Don't let his threats and fear of reprisal from him stop you from saying something," said the girl's father.

Reyes is a theater major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He had come home to Lewisville for three weeks to spend time with his parents.

On his MySpace page, Reyes touts being a three-time Texas Champion Magician & National Mime Champion.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)