A former Prairie Park Elementary School speech pathologist on Thursday was declared competent to stand trial on one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14 and one count of kidnapping, but those charges may multiply.
Mark Gridley, 61, was charged Feb. 10 in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred with one student on Feb. 7.
According to Deputy Douglas County District Attorney David Greenwald, an investigation into the incident has generated more than 5,000 pages of discovery, including information prosecutors believe will lead to additional charges.
“We haven’t gotten through all of it yet,” Greenwald said in court on Thursday.
During the hearing, Douglas County District Judge Amy Hanley said the competency report returned to her on April 27 indicated that Gridley did not show signs of “mental defect.” The finding means that an expert evaluation found Gridley is able to understand the legal proceedings in his court case.
Neither prosecutors nor defense attorney Vanessa Riebli objected to the report.
Half a dozen community members sat on the prosecution’s side of the gallery during a hearing, which was moved half an hour earlier in the afternoon on short notice.
An affidavit associated with the charges as they currently stand detailed the initial student’s police report, which was made on Feb. 8, the day after the alleged incident.
After the initial report, Gridley, who had worked at Prairie Park since August 2021, was immediately relieved of all duties for the school district. His contract was formally terminated by the school board on Feb. 24.
On Feb. 27, police said they would be submitting a new charging affidavit to the Douglas County district attorney’s office asking that “charges be filed against Mark Gridley to increase the total to 8 victims.”
In a news release, police said the additional allegations against Gridley were also associated with incidents that reportedly took place at Prairie Park. Police reported that those events occurred from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7, and included victims ranging in age from 6 to 11.
Gridley was first licensed as a Kansas speech pathologist in 2008. Before coming to Lawrence, he worked at Logan Elementary in the Seaman school district, which includes part of northern Topeka.
Gridley’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for a single day on July 31. Hanley said scheduling may be adjusted if the scope of the charges grows.
“It might take more than one day,” Riebli said. “It really depends on what the charges are.”
Defendants in criminal cases should be presumed not guilty unless they are convicted. Gridley remains in custody of the Douglas County jail on a $1.5 million bond.
A civil suit filed March 6 on behalf of one of the alleged victims states that Gridley “used his position of trust and authority to isolate, groom, and/or sexually abuse students under the guise of speech therapy, including Plaintiff.”
The suit asserts that the school district “knew, or had reason to know, Gridley engaged in acts of misconduct consistent with a dangerous propensity for unwanted or abusive contact with minor children and students, like Plaintiff.” It does not elaborate with further information about that allegation.
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Andrea Albright (she/her), reporter, can be reached at aalbright (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
Resources for survivors
If you have experienced sexual violence or trauma, please seek the help that’s right for you. There are many options available, and you don’t have to file a police report if you don’t want to.
Get 24/7 help in Lawrence: The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center
- Call 785-843-8985 to reach an advocate, 24/7. (Consider saving that number in your phone in case you or someone you know ever needs it.)
- After an assault: What are my options? Check this page for detailed information about
- talking to an advocate,
- going to the hospital,
- making a police report,
- and/or talking to a counselor or therapist.
- On campus? Check this page for specific resources for the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University, Baker University, Ottawa University and more.
Resources on KU’s campus:
- Contact CARE (Campus Assistance, Resource, and Education) Services: KU students can make an appointment online at careservices.ku.edu, by email, care@ku.edu, or by calling 785-864-9255. It’s free, confidential and voluntary to talk with the CARE Coordinator. All genders welcome. Read more here.
- Find more KU campus resources at this link. Specific information about sexual assault exams can be found under the “Medical Care” tab.
Domestic violence situations: The Willow Domestic Violence Center
- Reach the Willow for help 24/7 at 785-843-3333.
- Find more resources on the Willow’s website at this link.
More resources
- The Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County offers support and resources for children and families affected by child abuse. See their website at cacdouglas.org, call them at 785-592-3160 or stop by their office at 1009 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline: Call 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) for 24/7 safe, confidential and anonymous domestic and sexual violence support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives that is culturally appropriate.
- National hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text “START” to 88788, and/or visit thehotline.org to chat and learn more, 24/7.
More coverage:
Molly Adams / Lawrence TimesEx-Prairie Park speech pathologist found competent to stand trial in child sexual abuse case
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