ROMA, Texas – A South Texas teacher accused of keeping two girls in his classroom to protect them from others who thought they were witches has resigned.

Jose A. Ramos, an Advanced Placement Spanish teacher who had been with the district 20 years, resigned Wednesday, hours before the Roma school board was to consider firing him.

School district police said Ramos is accused of detaining the 14- and 17-year-old cousins in his unlocked classroom throughout the school day Oct. 20. He was charged with two counts of unlawful restraint of a student and was on paid leave since the incident.

Ramos allegedly told the girls they'd be arrested for casting a spell on a fellow teacher if they left the room. School district police Chief Noe Flores said Ramos claimed he was protecting the girls from students who were mad at them.

Ramos was not immediately be reached for comment. His resignation takes effect at the end of the school year.