Jefferson City teacher charged for stalking ex-wife

A Jefferson City Public Schools teacher was arrested over the weekend and charged with aggravated stalking.

Joshua Grotzinger, 31, of Rocheport, teaches math and coaches cross country and track at Jefferson City High School. He was arrested Saturday by Boone County Sheriff’s deputies for stalking.

Court documents show since he and his ex-wife divorced, there were at least six different times in a span of week that Grotzinger showed up around his ex. However, there was a restraining order granted against him in April.

Court records state Grotzinger and his ex-wife divorced in March. The following month, the restraining order was granted for an entire year. Court documents obtained by ABC 17 News show Grotzinger violated that restraining order several times last month.

“The possibility for something becoming more serious and more severe for a crime victim is certainly there,” said Boone County assistant prosecutor Jonathan Bertz.

The documents say in a week’s span, Grotzinger followed his ex in a car and drove by her house five nights in a row.

He also allegedly came into face-to-face contact with her while they were jogging. The court documents say they were near Stadium and West boulevards and jogging toward each other. When they passed, Grotzinger allegedly spit on her.

According to the victim, she feared he was going to grab or hurt her.

Prosecutors say the allegations may not seem like much individually, but it is a problem when they are combined.

“When it accrues like that, it certainly can take maybe on what is at face may not seem serious, but when it accumulates like that it’s something we would take very seriously,” said Bertz.

Jefferson City Public Schools officials could not comment on if Grotzinger was in class Monday, but the personnel department is currently looking into him.

School leaders say they are not far enough into the investigation to say what or if any actions will be taken.