16-year-old was blackmailing Dickinson ISD teacher over improper relationship, investigators say

DICKINSON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Dickinson ISD teacher arrested for having an improper relationship with a 16-year-old student was being blackmailed by the victim, according to investigators.

Kristi Hanks, 46, was arrested Wednesday and charged with improper relationship between educator and student.

The Galveston County Sheriff's Office said the victim was enrolled in an alternative education program at the Galveston County Juvenile Justice Center where Hanks was teaching at the time.

The sheriff's office began investigating Aug. 6 after one of the juvenile inmates reported the relationship to jail staff.

Investigators said the victim and Hanks both denied the relationship initially but that the victim later came clean.

Records show Hanks told investigators the victim had gotten in trouble during the previous school year for writing in a book that Hanks had a "big butt."

The boy told detectives that Hanks later told him she took it as a compliment and that the two exchanged phone numbers.

According to court documents, they soon began taking part in graphic video calls in which they exposed themselves.

The victim said he and Hanks met for sex at a park on two separate occasions but that Hanks "got scared both times and left before the sexual acts were done."

He said she would frequently rub her clothed genitals against his arm while at school.

Investigators said the victim threatened to expose the relationship if Hanks didn't buy him a gun and give him $2,000.

They said Hanks complied and later reported the gun stolen.

The victim allegedly bragged about the blackmail to his friends.

The same day the criminal investigation began, investigators say Hanks was texting the victim and offering to send him money.

"I just cleaned out my bank account for you," one message read.

"I'd rather be dead than them know that I was a pedophile ... since you like to throw that in my face," another read.

Dickinson ISD said Hanks was placed on leave as soon as the allegations surfaced.