Douglas County prosecutors have filed 12 additional charges against a former Prairie Park Elementary School employee, now alleging that he sexually assaulted seven children.
Mark E. Gridley, 61, was initially charged with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14 and one count of kidnapping, both alleged to have occurred on Feb. 7.
An updated charging document includes 14 total counts, repeating the same two charges for each of seven elementary-age children.
Gridley’s preliminary hearing, where the judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial, has been delayed until Oct. 2, 3 and 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
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. However, police received a report involving a second child on Feb. 10, and the following day announced that they believed there could be more alleged victims, including students who did not receive speech services.
Prosecutors told the judge during a hearing in May that they intended to file additional charges.
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.
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.
Read more background on the case in the articles linked below.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.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.
Resources on university campuses:
- KU: Contact CARE (Campus Assistance, Resource, and Education) Services: University of Kansas 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.
- Haskell: Find information about Haskell’s campus advocate coordinator and links to additional local, regional and tribal resources at this link.
- Baker: Find Baker University’s Title IX page at this link.
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:
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
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