A Tennessee teacher who was previously honored as teacher of the month has been detained and accused of aggravated statutory rape.
After receiving a suspension in March while authorities looked into reports that she’s having inappropriate physical contact with a student at Central High School, Casey McGrath, 28, was apprehended by local police in Hamilton County last Friday.
According to McGrath’s August 14 indictment, on May 1, 2022, she had sex with a person between the ages of 13 and 18.
The teacher was charged with illegally and knowingly engaging in sexual penetration with a person who was at least 13 years old but under the age of 18, according to the court documents, which also noted that the teacher is at least 10 years older than the victim.
According to reports, the 10th-grade geometry teacher’s personnel file indicated that she had been placed on paid leave and was being investigated for making improper physical contact with a pupil that did not cause harm.
The file stated that the inappropriate touch was of a sexual nature elsewhere.
Casey McGrath Bail Granted in Aggravated Statutory Rape Case, Next Court Date Set
After posting a $10,000 bond, McGrath has been granted bail and will make a second appearance in Hamilton County Criminal Court on September 6 for her arraignment.
According to state sentencing standards, aggravated statutory rape is a class D felony punishable by two to 12 years in prison.
According to a now-deleted piece in the school newspaper, the 28-year-old was chosen as teacher of the month by the kids.
Prior to joining Central High School in 2020, McGrath worked at East Ridge Middle School.
McGrath additionally volunteered at the school as an assistant volleyball coach, telling the student newspaper in the since-deleted article that having the opportunity to interact with children in an environment other than an academic one allowed her to get to know them even better.
According to the student article, McGrath specialized in mathematics at Lee University before earning her master’s degree in secondary mathematics education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
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Source: Daily Mail, NY Breaking
