Executive Summary
- Prosecutors dismissed trafficking charges against Kedria Grigsby due to insufficient evidence.
- Authorities could not prove Grigsby had actual knowledge of her son’s alleged criminal activities.
- Roger Magee remains the primary suspect in the investigation involving runaway minors.
- Charges may be refiled if new evidence links Grigsby to the scheme.
Prosecutors in Harris County, Texas, have dismissed criminal charges against a former high school teacher previously accused of operating a sex trafficking ring with her adult son, citing a lack of evidence to prove her knowing involvement in the scheme. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case against Kedria Grigsby, 42, a former cosmetology teacher at Klein Independent School District, has been dropped due to insufficient evidence.
According to prosecutors, the available evidence could not demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Grigsby possessed actual knowledge of the alleged sex trafficking activities conducted by her son, Roger Magee. Officials emphasized that the dismissal does not constitute a finding of innocence. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the District Attorney’s Office retains the authority to refile the case should additional evidence emerge linking Grigsby directly to the crimes.
Grigsby was arrested in 2024 and faced multiple felony counts related to human trafficking and compelling prostitution of a minor. Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office initially alleged that Grigsby and Magee targeted teenage runaways and homeless students between the ages of 15 and 17. Court records indicate that Magee, who remains the primary suspect, allegedly coerced victims into prostitution. Authorities reported that one victim claimed she was forced to sleep with multiple men nightly in exchange for money.
The investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Unit began after deputies responded to a call at a hotel in Spring, Texas. A juvenile victim identified Magee as her trafficker, known by the alias “Rico.” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez previously noted that text messages recovered from victims’ phones discussed prostitution payments and were linked to more than 100 potential clients. While a whistleblower had alerted the school district to alleged misconduct, prosecutors concluded that current evidence failed to establish that Grigsby facilitated or knowingly participated in her son’s illicit operations.
Procedural Legal Implications
The dismissal of these charges highlights the stringent evidentiary standards required to prosecute individuals for conspiracy or accomplice liability in complex trafficking cases. While law enforcement may establish a close association between a suspect and a primary perpetrator, prosecutors must independently prove “mens rea,” or criminal intent, demonstrating that the defendant had specific knowledge of and intent to further the illegal enterprise. This procedural move allows the state to focus resources on the prosecution of the primary suspect while preserving the ability to charge secondary actors if the ongoing investigation yields direct proof of complicity. It is important to note that all individuals, including Roger Magee, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
