Former Speech Therapist Pleads Not Guilty to Child Molestation

0:00A former speech pathologist in Lawrence just pleaded not guilty to serious charges of molesting young girls at Prairie Park Elementary School. Mark Gritley faces 14 felony counts, seven for kidnapping, and seven for aggravated indecent liberties with a child stemming from acts prosecutors. Say happened during fake speech therapy sessions. He started working at the school back in August of 2021 and got arrested on February 8, 2025. Gritley allegedly bound and blindfolded more than half a dozen girls in his office, turning what should have been help into something horrific. The community and school district reacted fast. He got fired right after the arrest. During a preliminary hearing last October, a judge reviewed videos of the girls' interviews and testimony from school staff, deciding there was enough to send the case to trial. This week at his Arrayment in Douglas County District Court, Gritley waved the formal charge reading, got a continuance from February due to the case's weight, and gave up his

1:01speedy trial rights. He's out on a $750,000 bond with tight monitoring. Prosecutors in his defense team now gear up for three-week trial starting January 4, 2027, as this painful chapter drags on for everyone involved. This has been Kansas News Today, powered by AI.