Injury of a child yields probation

ARP – The son of a former Arp ISD assistant principal was sentenced to 10 years probation on Monday, after pleading guilty to injury of a child related to impregnating and having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl in 2023.

According to our news partner KETK, in August 2025, then 21-year-old Blake Emmanuel Florence was arrested in connection to his improper relationship with a minor, alongside his mother, Karla Florence, who allegedly failed to report that she knew of the relationship.

Following a report filed by the victim’s mother, investigators found that Blake was involved in a sexual relationship with the victim, resulting in a child being born in 2024. Blake was charged with sexual assault of a child and tampering with physical evidence.

Karla Florence, a former Arp ISD assistant principal, had known of her son’s two-year relationship with a 14-year-old girl, and failed to report it, an arrest affidavit said. She was charged with failure to report and false report to a peace officer as she is considered a professional with a duty to report child abuse to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or law enforcement within 48 hours.

On Monday, Blake plead guilty to injury to a child, a second degree felony, before the 114th District Court. Along with his 10 years of probation with 1000 hours of community service, he’s been ordered not to contact the victim or his mother.

A spokesperson for the district court said the order for the victim will go into effect immediately and Florence will have 15 days until he can no longer contact his mother.