(Texas Scorecard) – A now-former Abilene Independent School District teacher has been arrested for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with one of his students.
Lawrence Brandt Grigg, 54, was arrested August 21 by the Abilene Police Department and charged with improper relationship between educator and student—a second-degree felony.
Grigg worked at Cooper High School as a music teacher. Police began an investigation into Grigg in late July after the school district notified them of the alleged relationship between him and one of his former students.
Court documents revealed that the relationship between the two became sexual during the girl’s senior year in 2023. A family member said that they discovered inappropriate messages between the two and reported it to the school principal.
The former student confirmed to officials that the messages were between her and Grigg. Police also confirmed the messages using forensic downloads and search warrants of account information.
Messages between the two included affectionate terms and described “acts of sexual conduct and intercourse.”
The former student also told detectives that she met Grigg her freshman year in 2020 and their relationship became physically intimate during her senior year in November 2023. The two met at Red Bud Park and local hotels at least ten times while she was still a student.
According to Abilene ISD, Grigg was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
Abilene ISD released a statement to the public stating the district will continue to work with the police and that protecting students is its top priority.
Abilene ISD has learned that Fred Grigg, a district orchestra and audio technology teacher, was arrested by the Abilene Police Department yesterday and charged with engaging in an improper relationship with a former student. Mr. Grigg was previously placed on administrative leave on July 30 following concerns raised by district staff that were immediately reported for investigation by the APD, CPS, and the State Board for Educator Certification.
“The AISD Board of Trustees has now accepted the superintendent’s recommendation for the proposed termination of Mr. Grigg. He is prohibited from having any contact with AISD students or staff and from entering any district facilities,” the statement continues.
Investigators are asking anyone with other information regarding Grigg’s case to contact the police department at 325-673-8331.
Grigg is currently being held in the Taylor County Jail on a $1 million bond.
State records show that Grigg’s teaching certificate is still valid; however, he is currently under review by the Texas Education Agency’s Educator Investigations Division.
Dozens of Texas educators have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children.