Award-Winning Teacher Brandyn Hargrove Sentenced to Probation After Admitting Abuse of Former Student at 15
A former Texas “Teacher of the Year,” Brandyn Martin Hargrove, has been sentenced to probation after admitting to sexually abusing a former student in a relationship that began when the victim was 15.
Hargrove, 43, pleaded guilty to 12 criminal counts connected to the abuse, which occurred while she was teaching at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas. The relationship continued until the victim turned 17, according to court records.
Despite the severity of the crimes — including sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by contact, and two counts of indecency with a child by exposure — Hargrove received 10 years of probation and will not serve prison time. She will, however, remain on the sex offender registry for life.
The victim, now in her 30s, reported the abuse to police in September 2023, nearly two decades after it occurred. Clute Police Chief James Fitch said detectives tracked down former classmates and others the victim had spoken to at the time to corroborate her claims.
The victim addressed Hargrove directly in court, saying:“Brandyn, I face you today as the adult who now protects the child you once exploited and betrayed. You didn’t just break boundaries. You broke a person. Today I go from victim to survivor, victim to victor.”
Hargrove’s family was present as the court handed down the sentence. Officials urged other victims of historic abuse to come forward, assuring them that cases would be treated seriously regardless of how much time had passed.
Hargrove was dismissed by the school district in early 2024 following the charges.
