By Kenny Mitchell
Publisher
A Hubbard ISD school board member and Texarkana, Texas police officer has been arrested for two counts of sexual assault of a child and separate counts of indecency with a child by contact and indecency with a child by exposure.
The charges stem from the testimony of a teenage girl who rode on patrol with Officer Gilley as a part of the department’s Explorer program. The Explorer program is basically a mentorship program for young people ages 14 through 20 that might be interested in a career in law enforcement. It allows them to see what law enforcement officers do daily on the job and helps them make a decision on whether they want to be a police officer themselves one day.
The probable cause affidavit executed in the case and signed by District Judge John Tidwell states that the underage female, who was 15 at the time of the alleged assaults, gave sworn testimony of repeated inappropriate contact forced on her by Gilley while she rode along with him between January and November of 2024 as part of the program. She gave that testimony during an interview at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center.
Following the arrest, Gilley was placed on administrative leave at the Texarkana PD and the Hubbard ISD released an official statement.
That statements reads:
On June 2, 2025, Hubbard ISD Trustee Zackary Gilley was arrested on multiple charges alleging sexual conduct with a child. Matt Skipper, the President of the Hubbard ISD Board of Trustees,stated, “I recognize that anyone charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. The school board and the superintendent, however, make decisions based upon school policies and Texas law relating to public education.”
Mr. Skipper emphasized that Mr. Gilley will not be permitted access to any school district property or school-related events while the case is pending. Mr. Skipper also said, “The Board holds all district officials to the highest standards of moral conduct. I intend to ask Mr. Gilley to resign his seat on the Board.”
Superintendent of Schools Johnny Pate intends to call a special meeting of the school board as soon as possible. Mr. Pate anticipates that the Board, along with the school’s attorney, will explore all options available to the school district.
Gilley was booked into the Bi-State Jail and his bond was set at $600,000.
See a more detailed story on Gilley’s arrest in next week’s print edition of the Bowie County Citizens Tribune.
