According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), a Jackson County school administrator and teacher have been arrested for their respective roles in allegedly paddling a student.
“At the request of 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson, on October 10th, TBI special agents joined the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children’s Services in investigating a complaint of an assault of a student in a Jackson County elementary school,” said a TBI release.
“The investigation revealed that on October 4th, a student at Dodson Branch Elementary School was paddled twice at the school by his teacher, Jackson Patterson, while the assistant principal, Tena Lynn, was also present,” according to TBI. “During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that the victim later complained about pain in his buttocks and was taken to a medical facility for examination.”
TBI said that an indictment against Patterson for one count of Simple Assault was returned Tuesday. On the same day, Lynn was charged with one count of Criminal Responsibility (of Assault).
Both were booked into the Jackson County jail. Patterson’s bond was $2,500, and Lynn’s $1,500.
In September, a Tipton County teacher was arrested for allegedly raping a student.
Alissa McCommon is alleged to have raped a boy under the age of 12 and had sexual contact with others.
The Covington Police Department (CPD) took her into custody on September 8.
“Covington Police Department Detectives continue to investigate this terrible exploitation and abuse of these young boys,” CPD Chief Donna Turner reportedly said at the time. “We expect to also develop the investigation to determine accountability of other adults in the case, including those who were aware of the abuse, and those who allowed or provided locations for such illegal acts to occur.”
Later in the month, according to CPD, McCommon was charged with coercion of a witness, aggravated stalking, and harassment. The law enforcement entity said McCommon reached out to one of the victims using a previously unknown phone number.
“The actions of McCommon are not only appalling, but CPD is also concerned about this apparent violation of her bond conditions,” said Turner. “Due to the nature of the communications, we are concerned others may have been contacted. We continue to work closely with the District Attorneys’ Office as to the revocation of McCommon’s bond, as well as the additional charges that continue to develop.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Dodson Branch School” by Dodson Branch School.Â
