By Rich Larson
A former Minnesota school resource officer has been sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service after admitting he failed to report allegations involving a middle school teacher who sent sexually explicit images to students, according to court records and media reports.
Gabriel Crombie pleaded guilty in May to aiding an offender and was sentenced by a judge this week. The case stems from an investigation into former Northfield Middle School teacher Katie Hanson, whose inappropriate communications with students came to light after a teenager reported her behavior to authorities.
According to court documents and published reports, a student told police that he and other boys had received inappropriate photographs from Hanson through Snapchat. The student said he informed Crombie, who was serving as a school resource officer at the time, about the alleged conduct. Investigators later determined there was no record showing the complaint had been documented or reported.
Authorities said Hanson, 38, admitted during the investigation that she had sent nude photographs to multiple boys, including at least one student who was in the eighth grade. Court filings allege that Crombie became aware of the allegations in April 2024 after a teacher raised concerns about Hanson’s conduct.
According to charging documents, Hanson told investigators she confessed her actions to Crombie when he approached her about the report. She said he indicated he would not pursue the matter and would “let the case go.” Prosecutors alleged that the two later entered into a personal relationship.
The revelations prompted increased scrutiny of how reports of alleged misconduct involving students were handled and whether established reporting requirements were followed.
Hanson resigned from her teaching position at Northfield Middle School during the same month the student reported her conduct. Earlier this year, she was convicted of engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child.
In February, Hanson was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest for that offense.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
