A man authorities say once worked at Pine Valley Middle School has been arrested on a charge of indecency with a child and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail. Officials report that Garrett Cross turned himself in on Friday and remains in custody while detectives continue to dig into the case.
Arrest And Investigation
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it secured an arrest warrant on Thursday after detectives followed up on allegations tied to Cross’s time at Pine Valley Middle School, with investigators saying the alleged conduct dates back more than five years. Cross has been charged with indecency with a child, and authorities later learned he is currently employed by Humble ISD. District officials have placed him on administrative leave while the investigation moves forward.
According to KPRC Click2Houston, Cross turned himself in on Friday and remains jailed at the Montgomery County Jail. The sheriff’s Special Victims Unit is coordinating the probe with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division as they review the allegations.
Campus And Local Context
Pine Valley Middle School is part of New Caney ISD and lists its campus at 22784 Hwy. 59 S in Porter on the district website. The school serves middle school grades for the district and is one of several New Caney campuses that feed into the district’s high school program, according to Pine Valley Middle School.
What The Charge Means Under Texas Law
Under Texas Penal Code §21.11, indecency with a child covers sexual contact with a child under 17 or causing a child to expose their genitals with the intent to arouse. The law treats contact and exposure differently: contact can be charged as a second degree felony, while exposure is generally handled as a third degree felony. Both can carry prison time and additional penalties under state law, as outlined in the official Texas statutes.
How To Share Tips
Montgomery County authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the sheriff’s office at 936-538-5900 or call Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867 to provide anonymous tips, as reported by KPRC Click2Houston. The sheriff’s office says the case is being handled by the Special Victims Unit in coordination with the district attorney’s Public Integrity Division.
