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Updated – January 16, 2025

An employee in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) is facing several charges related to child sex crimes for allegedly downloading explicit photos of minors.

James Badger, a teacher at Tucson High Magnet School (THMS), was arrested following an investigation that revealed inappropriate images on his computer. 

A live report from News 4 Tucson can be viewed below. 

News 4 also said the investigation into Badger began in October 2024 after authorities were alerted to suspicious internet activity connected to his residence. Authorities discovered that Badger’s laptop contained at least 10 images of nude females under the age of 15. 

An arrest warrant for Badger was issued in January 2025 and he now faces 10 felony counts of child exploitation of a minor. TUSD issued a statement published by News 4 Tucson that said, in part: 

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are deeply concerned by this situation and are cooperating fully with the Tucson Police Department in their investigation. Hiring documents show that [Badger] cleared the required background check and currently holds a valid IVP fingerprint card with the state of Arizona. We want to reassure our community that this alleged incident does not reflect the policies, values, or standards of behavior that we expect from our staff.”

Additional community comments can be heard in the broadcast below.

In unrelated news, it’s worth noting that THMS is the location for student-led drag shows that include adult performers. Current TUSD Board Member Ravi Shah and Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo promoted and endorsed the events. (Scroll down to see coverage from the School Board Watchlist below.) 

In 2022, one of the drag show sponsors, who worked as a THMS guidance counselor, was charged with sex crimes against a student. Despite this unfortunate incident, Superintendent Trujillo and some governing board members sought legal advice before permitting another drag show on campus in 2023. This event featured elementary-aged children. At the time, Board Member Val Romero was the only representative who publicly opposed the inappropriate celebrations on campus.

Badger is currently being held on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 21, 2025. The School Board Watchlist will update this profile as more information becomes available.

Please send tips on Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) to [email protected]. 

Updated – June 27, 2023

In March 2023, Parents Defending Education (PDE) published a “List of School District Transgender—Gender Nonconforming Student Policies” with more than 1,000 districts, including Tucson Unified School District (TUSD).

TUSD appears on the list due to its “Non-Discrimination and Gender Identity” policy. “Student Records: Names and Pronouns” the policy states:

“Every student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronouns that correspond to the student’s gender identity…All records that are not specifically required by law to match government-issued documents shall be updated upon a student’s written request, which includes an acknowledgment that [TUSD] shall notify parents/guardians of the request to change the student’s education records.”

However, the “Student Records: Privacy” section says, “School staff shall not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status to others.”

The policy does not explicitly require TUSD to inform parents at any point during the student’s gender transition.

In May 2023, the School Board Watchlist exposed a student-led drag queen show that took place at Tucson Magnet High School (TMHS). After seeking legal advice from attorney Michael Areinoff, TUSD Board President Ravi Shah and Superintended Gabriel Trujillo allowed the event to take place on campus.

The Watchlist could not confirm how parents were notified about the event – which included stage appearances from elementary-aged children.

During the April 25 board meeting, Shah encouraged all students to attend the event, despite one minor being sexually assaulted by a TMHS employee after the 2022 drag performance. 

According to Blaze Media, “A former high school counselor—who previously helped students organize a drag show–was arrested and accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl. The Tucson Police Department’s Child Sexual Assault Unit received a report of an inappropriate relationship between Zobella Brazil Vinik, 29, and [the] 15-year-old [TMHS] student. At the time Vinik was a counselor at [TMHS].” 

Vinik was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after the incident and subsequently charged with one count of sexual assault with a minor. Consequently, Vinik had also served as the counselor for the high school’s student-led Q Space Club.

According to Areinoff’s legal advice, “If TUSD were to prohibit Q Space from having its drag show on TUSD campus, that would amount to a content-based restriction, making it presumptively unconstitutional and subject to strict scrutiny.”

Updated – May 24, 2023

The Watchlist obtained video footage (below) of the second annual Tucson Magnet High School (TMHS) drag show on April 29, 2023. Despite the arrest of a TMHS school counselor – who allegedly sexually assaulted a minor after the show in 2022 – Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo sought legal advice in support of allowing the show to occur on school grounds.

During the April 25 board meeting, several students spoke in favor of the event and referred to the drag performances as “art.” Board President Ravi Shah responded to event critics, stating:

“…I especially want to thank all of the students…advocating for themselves and their colleagues…Many members of the governing board have been advocating in every form that we can in support of our LGBTQ students and staff…

“As a governing board [and] as a district, we know that having clubs and activities in our schools is really beneficial for our students…And the drag show occurring at Tucson High is part of an event that’s put on by a student-led club [Q Space]. It’s on a Saturday outside of any academic time, it’s completely voluntary to participate…so there really shouldn’t be any controversy…”

Shah – who stated that he was the first openly gay board member elected in TUSD – said he took his three children to the TMHS performance in 2022 and encouraged the community to come and support students.

The Watchlist reached out to Board Member Val Romero with a request for comment and received the following statement:

Since the district did not impose an age limit, toddlers and elementary-aged students can be seen in several of the videos:

Updated – April 26, 2023

A Tucson resident who wished to remain anonymous (“Jen”) told the Watchlist she was bullied by drag queens at the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) board meeting.

After hearing Tucson Magnet High School (TMHS) students would host a second annual drag show on April 29, Jen said she attended the April 25, 2023 board meeting in support of parents. Jen claimed that everyone who opposed the event was made to feel like they were the enemy.

Referring to the drag queens, Jen said, “They were foul, they were bullying, and they turned the podium around so they could point at us when they spoke.” She also said men in drag positioned themselves close to her and other community members and made intimidating comments throughout the meeting.

Several people—including some TMHS students—addressed the TUSD Governing Board in full costume. One speaker repositioned the podium and invited the audience to keep filming as he spoke. At some points, the microphone was silenced to censor obscene speech. Another presenter donned an aborted fetus around his neck (pictured below).

“Sunday” Hamilton—the primary contact for the Q Space club at TMHS—also addressed the board. Hamilton organized the school’s first annual drag queen show in 2022; thereafter, a counselor was charged with sexually assaulting a minor student.  

Hamilton told the audience, 

“…I come to you today as a parent of three kids within TUSD, as a TUSD school counselor at Tucson High School, and also as the sponsor of the Q Space group that is putting on the drag show this Saturday…

“There was question [sic] about who was doing this. Was it the [governing] board organizing [it]? No. It’s me. So, I yield the rest of my time to our students.” 

Harris Kornstein—a University of Arizona professor who was confronted by a reporter after performing a drag show for elementary-aged children—also spoke during the call to the public. He stated that he was a board member of Drag Queen Story Hour and that he fully supports drag shows for minors.

After public comments, Board President Ravi Shah praised the students for “advocating for themselves,” and said he was “proud to be elected by [the] community in 2020…as the first openly gay member of [the] TUSD governing board.” Shah also claimed he’s been providing “gender-affirming care” for 22 years.

He concluded,

“I was excited last year to attend the drag performance at Tucson High. I came with my three children, all of whom are TUSD students. And [I] look forward to attending this Saturday’s events to support our students…”

Several speakers petitioned the board to fulfill their requests for an extensive LGBTQ community resource center. The center would be hosted on the TUSD website as a designated space for “queer” students.

The Watchlist will continue monitoring developments in TUSD.

Updated – April 18, 2023

The School Board Watchlist uncovered a memo addressed to Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo. The author is Michael Areinoff, a lawyer and part-time law professor at the University of Arizona. Areinoff received a TUSD administrative appointment to Associate General Counsel Legal Services in August 2021.

Regarding a drag queen show scheduled on April 29, 2023, at Tucson High Magnet School (THMS), Areinoff advised:

“The Equal Access Act and the First Amendment work together to protect the right of the Q Space club to conduct their drag show on the Tucson High campus outside of the instructional day. Q space is a Tucson High student club that falls within the protection of EAA, as it is non-curricular and not sponsored by the school. It is student-run and voluntary…

“We could also face liability for gender discrimination in the violation of Title IX and the Fourteenth Amendment…Prohibiting drag shows by student groups thus exposes us to lawsuits by affected students, and we are likely to lose those cases. If, on the other hand, we were sued by the ‘hecklers’ – community members angry about the drag show – we would probably win that case.”

The full memo can be read here.

The Watchlist contacted TUSD Board President Ravi Grivois-Shah and Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo with a request for comment. This profile will be updated accordingly.

Updated – April 12, 2023

Tucson High Magnet School (THMS) has scheduled a second annual drag queen show for April 29, 2023. The clubs and activities calendar says the event will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm “outside of T building.”

THMS’s first annual drag show occurred in May 2022 and ended with one Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) employee behind bars. 

According to AZ Free News, “One of [TUSD] high school counselors that organized a drag show featuring students was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. [THMS] counselor Zobella Brazil Vinik, a 29-year-old woman, was charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor.”

AZ Free News continued, “Vinik worked alongside fellow counselor Sunday Hamilton, a transgender man, to create the first annual drag show…TUSD spokeswoman Karla Escamilla explained that not allowing the drag show to occur would constitute gender expression discrimination.”

Vinik was removed from her position, but the district has continued promoting events centered on sex and gender. A list of THMS organizations still includes a Q Space club with Hamilton’s contact information. Q Space—a not-for-profit LGBTQ organization—includes community chapters, digital conversations through “Q Chat Space” and a healthcare provider directory.

Hamilton participated in a panel discussion for the Tucson Regional Educator Collaborative (TREC) – an organization that “[brings] together a panel of experts and educators to share their experiences and best practices for supporting transgender students.” TREC confirmed Hamilton’s high counseling position and the school’s LGBTQ+ student club.

Updated – May 2022

Tucson Unified School District is located in Tucson, Arizona. The district has 88 total schools in operation with over 45,000 students enrolled.

Tucson High Magnet School (THMS), part of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD), announced a plan to host their first drag show on Saturday, May 7th. According to AZ Free News, “The THMS employees coordinating the event are Zobella Vinik and another counselor, both THMS counselors that also lead the LGBTQ+ student club, and “Q Space,” in which students learn about LGBTQ+ history and are encouraged to explore their identities.” 

Just a few days before the scheduled drag show, one of THMS’ counselors and coordinator of the event, Zobella Vinik, was accused of having sexual relations with a minor. According to KOLD 13 News, “the Tucson Police Department said detectives received a report on Tuesday, May 3 about an inappropriate relationship between Zobella Brazil Vinik and a 15-year-old student.” Ms. Vinik resigned from her position on Thursday, May 5 at TUSD and is no longer an employee of the district. Ms. Vinik is currently facing a charge of sexual conduct with a minor.

Arizona school counselor who arranged drag show for students is accused of having sex with a 15 year-old student pic.twitter.com/l2Q7AlZrGY

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 15, 2022

If you or anyone you know has information regarding this case, you can call 911 or 88-CRIME anonymously.

Updated – May 2022

TUSD has chosen to disregard the mask mandate ban that Governor Doug Ducey signed into law. The district chose to mandate masks for all students, staff, and visitors when inside school buildings. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. 

TUSD has an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness Department. According to the Departments Preamble, TUSD “believes in the positive contributions of desegregation and integration to student growth and success.” Also, TUSD “will achieve our mission by pursuing diversity through desegregation, integration, and equity of opportunity districtwide, and by eliminating the manifestations of racism, discrimination, and prejudice.”

Updated – October 27, 2021

* For information about the effort to promote quality Arizona school board governance that focuses on delivering excellence in education that best meets the needs of individual students, check out “The Arizona Coalition of School Board Members” here.*