Ex-Missouri high school teacher sent sex videos to students, prosecutors say
A former Oak Grove High School teacher is accused of sending pornographic videos of himself to students and trying to have sex with a minor, Jackson County prosecutors said Friday.
Ethan C. Grumke, 27, is charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with one felony and four misdemeanors. The charges allege stalking, attempting to make sexual contact with a student and furnishing pornographic material to children.
According to court records, Oak Grove police were first contacted by the Missouri Children’s Division about sexual videos sent to students in late May. The Missouri Children’s Division is an arm of the state’s social services agency that reviews alleged misconduct in schools.
School and district leaders told police the following day that they had investigated an anonymous report about Grumke. The report alleged he sent pornographic videos to female students. Grumke later admitted to school officials that he had sent a video showing him and his wife having sex but denied any other misconduct, according to court records.
Police also interviewed girls who knew him from school. The students described receiving sexually explicit content from Grumke over Instagram and Snapchat beginning in at least December 2020.
One video showed him masturbating and included a sexually suggestive text message, according to court records. Over texts, Grumke allegedly added one of the students to a private Instagram channel with material “for her eyes only” that would include fitness pictures, modeling or “explicit or adult content.”
Another witness told officers she thought nothing of it when she and Grumke first connected over Instagram because she considered him a mentor. She tried to back away from him after becoming uncomfortable with his conduct on social media and after receiving unwanted sexual content, she told police.
Another girl accused Grumke of pressuring her to have sex and to send nude photographs. She told police she was worried she might get in trouble if she reported anything.
Names and ages of the students are redacted in court documents. The Star generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Tom Huffington, superintendent of Oak Grove’s school district, provided a statement but declined to comment further. No other students have reported allegations against Grumke, according to the statement, but the district is asking anyone with information to contact them or Oak Grove police.
District officials did not offer details about Grumke’s time of employment or positions with Oak Grove High School.
Grumke recently accepted a teaching position with Bayfield High School in southwestern Colorado. Grumke was going to teach math and serve as head coach of the school’s football team but has already resigned, said Kevin Aten, Bayfield’s school district superintendent.
“He resigned right before he even had any contact or any meeting with kids,” Aten said.
Prosecutors said Grumke was arrested in Colorado on Friday.
This story was originally published August 13, 2021 at 2:50 PM.
