Mitchell High School teacher arrested for sexual contact with student

Colorado Springs police say a teacher at Mitchell High School was arrested for unlawful sexual contact with a student under the age of 18.

Armando Grez, 27, was arrested in May, according to a news release issued Thursday by CSPD.

Court documents obtained by KRDO state that Grez was trying to engage in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl on multiple occasions beginning in April.

The victim’s mother found out that she had been contacted by Grez several times and reported it to police. Police then interviewed the victim, and she gave details about how Grez would grope her and get aroused while hugging her.

The victim also told police that Grez had asked to touch her butt in his classroom. She said no, but she agreed to a hug when he asked her for one. Grez then said he had to stop because he was “becoming aroused.” An affidavit says the victim could feel Grez getting aroused, and it was touching against her lower pelvic area.

Several other instances were described in which Grez would give the victim a ride home from school or take her to the movies, and he would try holding her hand or placing his hand on her thigh. During one car ride, the victim said Grez pulled over and asked her to “make out.”

During a ride in early April, Grez told the victim to open a ring box inside a bag. When she found it and opened it, Grez said, “Will you marry me?” The victim told police she just thought Grez was “being weird” at the time because she knew the ring was for his girlfriend.

The affidavit says Grez also asked the victim to send a topless photo of herself through Snapchat, and he said he would give her an A in his class or a 100% on the final exam if she did. She told police that she didn’t accept that offer, but there were other occasions when Grez would change her grade in exchange for a hug.

Grez had told the victim not to tell anyone about the interactions, according to the affidavit, and she said she knew what was happening between them “was not right, but she did not want him to get in trouble.”

Police reviewed surveillance video from the school and saw Grez leaving the building with the victim. An investigator tried to interview Grez on May 20, but he invoked his Miranda Rights.

Grez faces a felony charge of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.