A Grand Prairie middle school teacher has been arrested and hit with a third-degree felony charge after authorities say he groomed a student, according to school officials. The arrest, carried out last Thursday at his Grand Prairie home, capped an investigation that began in October with an anonymous tip and ended with the teacher pulled from campus the very next day.
Parents at Arnold Middle School learned about the case this week in a letter from principal Dexter Dixon, who told families the district has been working with police throughout the investigation and emphasized that student safety remains the top priority.
According to The Dallas Morning News, the teacher was identified as Kelvin Leiva, an English language arts instructor at Arnold Middle School. Dixon’s letter stated that Leiva was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 23, after the district received an anonymous report alleging inappropriate communication with a student. The paper reports the Grand Prairie Police Department took over the investigation on Oct. 24, and Leiva has not returned to campus since being removed.
Grand Prairie police confirmed to FOX 4 that Leiva was arrested last Thursday at his residence on a third-degree felony charge tied to grooming. In the letter to parents cited by the station, Dixon wrote, "The safety and well-being of our students are among our highest concerns." It is the kind of line schools hope never to have to send, but one that North Texas parents have unfortunately seen more than once in recent years.
The Arnold Middle School website now lists campus news, contact information and resources, but Leiva no longer appears on its public staff pages, a change reflected on the broader district site as well. The homepage confirms the campus address at 1204 E. Marshall Drive in Grand Prairie and links to family resources and campus safety details; families can find contact information on the Arnold Middle School site.
Legal implications
Leiva faces a third-degree felony charge. Under Texas law, that level of felony is punishable by two to ten years in prison and may carry a fine of up to $10,000, according to Justia summarizing Texas Penal Code §12.34. Any potential sentence would ultimately depend on decisions by prosecutors, the evidence presented in court and whether Leiva has any prior criminal record.
Where this fits locally
The case arrives amid a run of educator-misconduct investigations across North Texas, where districts have increasingly moved to sideline employees quickly when serious allegations surface. Previous Grand Prairie cases have highlighted the now-familiar playbook: immediate removal from campus, a handoff to law enforcement and parallel communication with families, as seen in earlier coverage from CBS DFW.
As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Arnold Middle School families were formally notified this week. Officials said they plan to release more information as the investigation moves forward, while stressing that student privacy will remain protected.
