Ex-Northfield Teacher Accused of Sending Nude Photos to Students, Ex Police Officer Also Accused of Wrongdoing

Northfield, MN (KROC-AM News)- A former southeast Minnesota middle school teacher has been charged for allegedly sending sexually explicit photos to students. 

See Also: Prison Sentence Handed Down in Minnesota Pipe Bomb Case 

That’s according to a news release issued by the Steele County Attorney’s Office Thursday afternoon. 

A former Northfield Police Department School Resource officer is also charged in the case. 

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The Steele County Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution in Rice County to avoid a conflict of interest. 

Former Northfield Middle School Teacher Accused of Sending Nude Photos to High School Students

37-year-old Katie Ann Hanson is charged with two counts of electronic communication of sexually explicit materials to children. 

The criminal complaint says a Northfield high school student reported the photos, sent via Snapchat, to former Northfield School Resource Officer Gabriel Crombie in March of 2024. 

The student and the Steele County Attorney’s Office claim Crombie did not thoroughly investigate the matter. A Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation of Crombie’s conduct also found evidence of wrong-doing, the court document states.

The criminal complaint says Crombie never made a report when students brought the allegations to him. An adult witness in the case told investigators Hanson was “was seeing another guy, Crombie,” according to the complaint.

Investigators found multiple images of Hanson and Crombie on one of Hanson’s phones, the complaint says. 

During an interview with investigators, Hanson admitted to sending five boys, ranging in age from 11-17, nude photos over Snapchat, the charges say. 

She’s due to make her first court appearance in July. Crombie is being charged in the case by the Waseca County Attorney’s Office.