COVINGTON, TENNESSEE: Alissa McCommon, a Tennessee teacher who taught English and Social Studies to fourth graders, has been arrested and charged after allegedly raping a 12-year-old in her house.
The 38-year-old, who taught at Charger Academy, was arrested outside her home by the Covington Police Department on Friday, September 8, and booked into the Tipton County Jail.
The mother of two has been accused of having a sexual encounter with one of her former students in 2021 when the child was just 12 years old.
Covington Police Chief Donna Turner noted that the alleged tryst took place at her home.
What are the charges against Alissa McCommon?
McCommon has been charged with rape of a child and is being held on a $25,000 bond. The teacher was suspended from her position without pay on August 24 after a parent came forward with harrowing allegations, district leadership said.
Officials also noted that after her suspension, multiple juvenile victims came forward to claim that she initially began interacting with them on social media and then started playing video games with some of them.
The improper behavior escalated swiftly after she allegedly sent them explicit images and asked to have sex with them.
Officers noted that during their investigation, McCommon confessed that she spoke with the former students in an inappropriate way.
They further stated that none of the alleged sexual acts are presently believed to have occurred on school property.
Parents in shock after Alissa McCommon’s arrest
Many parents were outraged to learn of the teacher's unethical behavior, and some were irate that they learned of it two weeks later via a Facebook post.
Due to their lack of confidence in the education system, some parents are thinking of home-schooling their children and are asking the Tipton Education Board for explanations.
Bianca Taylor told Fox13 Memphis that when her son got home from school, she asked him if his teacher had been in school lately.
She said her son told her there was a substitute teacher because the school said the teacher was homesick.
"I do hope they take matters seriously because of any other situation. If it was a man doing it the opposite way, y'all would take it more seriously," Taylor said, adding, "Even if she did it or didn't do it, it needs to be looked at and not swept under the rug."
The police chief described the situation as "unbearable", claiming that resources are being provided to the victims.
"It's unspeakable and it's 100 percent preventable. I think that's why the detectives and we are so passionate about making sure victims are okay," said Chief Turner.
Alissa McCommon's lawyer alleges witch hunt
Jere Mason, McCommon's attorney, stated that his client maintains her innocence. "We believe that it's borderline a witch hunt on social media and that's frustrating to us," Mason said, according to Daily Mail.
"What we're asking is that the public be patient and allow the justice system to do its job and not create further persecution on the alleged victims or on the family of the defendant." Mason added.
Tipton County Schools said that McCommon also worked at the Crestview Elementary School. In this case, police are still questioning witnesses and looking for further victims.
They stated that further charges are anticipated and that the investigation is still underway. McCommon is due to appear at General Sessions Court on October 13.
