Former ILTexas teacher’s sexual assault case dismissed in Brazos County

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - A criminal case against a former International Leadership of Texas teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student has been dismissed by prosecutors.

Jose Hernandez Grimaldo was arrested in May 2024 after being accused of sexually assaulting a student inside a restroom at the IL campus on Longmire Drive in College Station. He was fired following his arrest.

A trial in the case was scheduled to begin Monday, but Hernandez Grimaldo’s attorney, Shane Phelps, said prosecutors dismissed the charge because of a lack of evidence.

“As we got closer to trial, it became more and more obvious that he just didn’t do this. Now I’m sure the DA’s office would say, “Well, there was probable cause,” but all it takes for probable cause is for someone to point the finger and say something happened,” Phelps said.

Phelps said his client has remained in jail for more than two years while awaiting trial.

“You can imagine sitting in jail for two and a half years under a horrific accusation that he knows he didn’t do. Now, just imagine the agony of those two and a half years in jail,” Phelps said.

According to Phelps, Hernandez Grimaldo remains in custody because of an ICE immigration hold.

The Brazos County District Attorney’s Office said the decision to dismiss the case came after prosecutors obtained new information while preparing for trial.

“While preparing for trial, information was recently obtained regarding this offense that negatively impacted our ability to move forward with trial,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

The office said it determined it no longer had the courtroom-quality evidence necessary to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“Consequently, the case has been dismissed,” the statement said.

Prosecutors also emphasized that the dismissal should not be interpreted as minimizing the impact on the alleged victim.

“While prosecutors have a strict ethical obligation to only proceed with a trial when the legally admissible evidence supports the charge, a dismissal does not diminish the reality of the trauma experienced. We remain dedicated to standing with survivors throughout every stage of the legal process,” the statement said.

Court records obtained by KBTX confirm the state’s motion to dismiss, citing “insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction” and stating the state could not prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

KBTX reached out to International Leadership of Texas for comment on the dismissal. A spokesperson declined to comment.