EP Teacher Was A Child Groomer Who Met Student In Locked Room: Police

EDEN PRARIE, MN — A former Eden Prairie High School teacher was charged with child endangerment in connection with "an inappropriate relationship" he had in 2021, according to police.

The charge was filed after experts found that 51-year-old Craig L. Hollenbeck's behavior with a student constituted child groomer, according to the criminal complaint.

Hollenbeck taught social studies until he resigned on Sept. 28, 2021, according to school documents.

In September 2021, Eden Prairie police received a report of an inappropriate relationship between a high school teacher and a former student, authorities said.

Police spoke with a mandated reporter, who provided information that came from Hollenbeck's adult girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint.

Hollenbeck was a teacher during the 2020-2021 school year, and he taught the student in the second semester until the student graduated in May 2021, the criminal complaint states.

Contact between the student and teacher included text messages, social media, Facetime, and in-person meetings, investigators said. The relationship began as far back as February 2021, police said.

The mandated reporter said the student would go to Hollenbeck's classroom during a free third hour, and Hollenbeck would lock the door, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said they reviewed electronic communications between Hollenbeck and the student. The two exchanged many texts and messages about being in love, the criminal complaint states.

"I didn’t expect you to embrace me so fully, so closely, so non-reservedly and I loved every second of it," Hollenbeck said in one text in May 2021, according to police.

Authorities said Hollenbeck sent another text in early June of 2021, which read; "I knew you were sensual a long time ago, I just didn’t expect the breathtaking 122 hugs, the intensity of Sunday, or the arousals of this week."

According to police, Hollenbeck also sent the following messages to the student:

• "I knew my breathing in your ear in 122 had an impact but I wasn’t prepared for your want of it and reactions..."
• "Your allowing me to touch your shoulders and back"
• "I just want to hold you close to me and snuggle without the fear of someone walking into 122..."

In September 2021, Hollenbeck searched websites to learn how to delete notes and social media messages, the criminal complaint states.