A Texas teacher charged with sexually assaulting an underage female student multiple times more than 15 years ago is now going to lose her job.
Brazosport Independent School District trustees voted in a special meeting on January 2 to fire 43-year-old Brazoswood High School teacher Brandyn Martin Hargrove.
Just before Christmas, a Brazoria County grand jury indicted Hargrove on six counts of sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by contact, and two counts of indecency with a child by exposure.
A 12-count indictment detailed Hargrove’s alleged sexual activities with a female student under the age of 17—the age of consent in Texas—beginning in 2007.
One of the counts accuses Hargrove of assaulting the victim with a cucumber.
Hargrove was booked into Brazoria County Jail on December 21 and released the same day on a $240,000 bond.
Clute Police Chief James Fitch said the victim, who is now 30 years old, came forward in September alleging a sexual relationship with Hargrove that began when the victim was a 15-year-old student at Brazoswood High School and continued for about two years.
Texas has no statute of limitations for sexual assault of a child or indecency with a child.
Police say the alleged crimes occurred off campus and they are not aware of any other victims at this time.
Hargrove reportedly began teaching English at Brazoswood High School in 2002, four years after she graduated from the school. She later became head of the school’s English department and was once named Teacher of the Year. She was also involved with the Brazosport ISD Education Foundation.
She and her husband David Hargrove live in Lake Jackson and have a 10-year-old son.
Her father Jim Martin, a former Lake Jackson city councilman and mayor, is a longtime Brazosport ISD booster.
In 2007, the same year Hargrove is accused of first sexually assaulting a student, Jim Martin was among the first additions to the district’s “Wall of Fame.”
Martin received a “Heroes for Children” award in 2020 for his 30 years of volunteer work in Brazosport ISD—including as chairman of the district’s 2014 and 2019 bond committees.
Brazosport ISD Superintendent Danny Massey said Hargrove has been on paid administrative leave since September 29, when the district first learned of the allegations against her.
District trustees are expected to terminate Hargrove’s employment contract at the next scheduled school board meeting on January 22.
“BISD remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity among our staff, and we take the safety and well-being of our students very seriously,” district officials said in a statement. “We understand that this news may raise concerns. If any parent, student, or former student has concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact Brazoswood High School Principal Rita Pintavalle or Brazosport ISD Police Chief Wade Nichols.”
Hargrove is among scores of Texas teachers charged in 2023 with sex crimes involving students and other minors.
In October, Brazoswood High School teacher Michael Watson was charged with receiving child pornography after federal investigators found evidence he distributed sexually explicit pictures and videos of underage girls online.
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