This post was updated March 10 at 5:58 p.m.

When a UCLA Early Care and Education teacher was arrested for child sexual abuse in 2024, the families of his former students expected the university to keep them informed about the case.

But parents said the university did not contact them when the former teacher failed to appear in court last month.

Christopher Rodriguez worked at UCLA Early Care and Education centers for more than two decades before he was arrested on suspicion of abuse in February 2024. He was convicted on multiple misdemeanor charges – including willful cruelty to a child and sexual battery – in April 2025, and was sentenced in June to seven years in jail.

Rodriguez filed to appeal his conviction and was later released on bond, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department inmate locator. California law allows some people convicted of misdemeanor offenses to remain out of custody while their appeals are pending – with one condition of Rodriguez’s release being that he continued to provide regular updates to the court.

[Related: Former UCLA child care teacher sentenced to 7 years for child sexual abuse]

The LA County Superior Court issued a warrant for Rodriguez Feb. 9 after he did not show up to a scheduled court appearance. Within a day, families of his former students began finding out Rodriguez did not appear in court through one another or their lawyers, but were surprised that the school did not send them any updates about the situation, Parent A – a UCLA faculty member – said.

“It was very disturbing, very terrifying,” said Parent A, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their child’s identity. “It’s a moment of confusion.”

[Related: Warrant issued for former UCLA employee convicted of child sexual abuse]

When Rodriguez was first arrested, Parent A said they believed UCLA ECE would keep families informed about updates to his case – including those which could put Rodriguez’s former students at risk.

But UCLA has not communicated with them for more than a year, even after multiple parents requested more information, Parent A alleged.

“We’re years out and they continue to be completely silent towards families,” Parent A added. “We only have information that we get ourselves as parents or through our own legal representatives, so that was how we learned that he is now apparently a fugitive.”

A UCLA ECE spokesperson said in an emailed statement Tuesday that while community safety is ECE’s highest priority, they do not receive updates on the criminal case. Families are encouraged to seek information from the court system directly, the spokesperson added in the statement.

Parent B, another UCLA faculty member who asked to remain anonymous to protect their child, said they never received any direct communication from UCLA about Rodriguez – even though their child was a student in his classroom a year before his arrest. They added that Rodriguez’s failure to appear in court elevated the fear and anxiety their family was already experiencing.

Christina Christie, dean of the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, said in a Feb. 2024 email to ECE parents – including those at the Krieger Center where Rodriguez most recently worked – that while administrators sought to support families, they could only send limited information due to the sensitivity of the case and need to protect victims’ privacy.

Parent B said they never received any resources from ECE besides a town hall two years ago.

The bench warrant issued for Rodriguez means law enforcement can immediately arrest him after confirming his identity, according to state law.

However, Danielle De Smeth, a lawyer whose firm represents 15 Krieger families in a civil case, said in a February interview the situation was still upsetting to the people she represents – many of whom found out Rodriguez failed to appear in court from a victim’s advocate a day later.

[Related: Law firm files suit against UC alleging negligence in Christopher Rodriguez case]

A lawyer representing Rodriguez did not respond to a request for comment on his client’s whereabouts.

For Parent A, the initial panic about their family’s safety eventually settled into a feeling of betrayal by UCLA administrators.

They added that they believe the UCLA community as a whole has not done enough to acknowledge the situation.

“A massive tragedy happened here in our backyard and no one cared,” Parent A said. “I find that also to be a bit of a betrayal. It’s a betrayal from the administrators, but it’s somewhat of a betrayal from my own community.”

The university’s childcare program has been used as a hiring incentive for faculty and staff, Parent B said. Even before Rodriguez was arrested, they said they questioned whether the children in his class were properly supervised.

They added that they believe UCLA should not maintain programs it cannot fully support.

“UCLA has many strengths, and I still value this institution tremendously, but it’s really undermined my faith in their ability to oversee education for young children,” they said.

Parent A also said the university sold the idea of a campus community – that UCLA offered childcare, recreation and work all in one place – when they were hired to teach.

After years as a professor, that relationship is now broken, Parent A said. They added that their family hopes Rodriguez will be found and prosecuted – and that ECE will provide more support and information to families.

“I would like some communication about what the plans are for finding him and bringing him to justice,” Parent B said. “That’s what I want from the legal system, from UCLA – the same thing I’ve always wanted – which is some degree of communication about this.”