Former Mississippi JROTC Instructor Arrested For Child Grooming After Investigation Uncovers 1,200 Explicit Text Messages

Former instructor Lawrence Richard Dizon Jr. faces grooming charges in Jackson County after 1,200 texts were found. Read the full investigation details.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:06 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from WLOX

Arrest of Former High School Educator

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has announced the arrest of a former Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) instructor in connection with a child grooming investigation. Lawrence Richard Dizon Jr. was taken into custody on Wednesday following a month-long probe into his conduct at St. Martin High School. The arrest marks the culmination of an investigation that began in early February, centering on the professional and ethical boundaries maintained by the school's instructional staff.

Investigation Triggered by School Administrators

The legal proceedings against Dizon were initiated after school administrators contacted the sheriff's department on February 5. Officials reported allegations of inappropriate conduct between Dizon and a student, prompting an immediate inquiry by local law enforcement. The school district acted swiftly to involve authorities once the initial reports of misconduct surfaced, prioritizing the safety of the student body while the investigation moved into its forensic phase.

Digital Evidence and Communication Patterns

Forensic analysis of digital devices played a critical role in establishing probable cause for the grooming charge. Authorities revealed that the investigation uncovered approximately 1,200 text messages exchanged between Dizon and the victim. This high volume of communication outside of standard educational parameters served as a primary piece of evidence regarding the nature of the relationship. The sheer frequency of the messages suggested a sustained pattern of behavior that investigators characterized as grooming.