Covington, TN — A Tennessee teacher has been arrested and charged with raping a boy at her home in 2021. Authorities say she is also accused of sexual misconduct involving “multiple juveniles.”
Alissa McCommon, 38, of Covington, was arrested on Friday following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate contact with children under 18, according to the Covington Police Department.
The investigation began last month when the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services alerted police to reports of sexual misconduct involving a teacher and a former student. McCommon, a teacher at Challenger Academy, was suspended without pay on August 24 after a parent came forward with allegations of abuse, school officials told CBS affiliate WREG-TV.
Police said “multiple juvenile victims” reported becoming friends with McCommon, their former teacher, and interacting with her through video games and social media. This allegedly led to McCommon sending inappropriate photographs and requesting sexual relations with the victims.
According to Covington Police Chief Donna Turner, McCommon is accused of having a sexual encounter with a boy aged 12 or younger at her home in 2021.
“Covington Police Department Detectives continue to investigate this terrible exploitation and abuse of these young boys,” Turner said in a statement. “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.”
Authorities confirmed there is no evidence that any of the alleged activities took place on school property. During the investigation, McCommon admitted to inappropriately communicating with former students, police said.
“It is unbearable. 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,” Turner told WREG.
McCommon’s attorneys, however, maintain her innocence.
“We believe that it’s borderline a witch hunt on social media, and that’s frustrating to us,” defense attorney Jere Mason said. “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.”
McCommon has been charged with rape of a child and is being held on a $25,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on October 13.
The Tipton County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Covington Police Department in the investigation and continues to gather evidence.
“Remember, although we work for the public and our citizens, our victims are a priority,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “I assure you we are being thorough with the investigation and the process at hand.”
