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Georgia School Administrator Charged With Raping Student, Furnishing Alcohol To Minors
Dr. Rachelle Terry has been charged with supplying alcohol to minors at a Halloween party and "having sex with a student."
A school administrator in Georgia is accused of supplying alcohol to minors at a Halloween party and raping at least one underage student.
Dr. Rachelle Louise Terry, 43, was arrested and charged with child molestation and statutory rape after allegedly “having sex with a student,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday. State agents say Terry was also charged with 10 counts of furnishing alcohol to a group of underage kids following a state-level investigation that began on Nov. 23.
The underage drinking allegedly occurred at a “Halloween party earlier this year,” according to the state bureau.
The ages of the children believed to be involved have not been released.
Terry lives in Chatsworth, Georgia and worked as an administrator for Murray County Public Schools. As published on the school district’s website, she was the “Director of Federal Program, Data Collections and Enrollment.” She is currently on contractual paid leave until a hearing to determine her status, according to Fox Chattanooga affiliate WTVC.
The Murray County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the allegations on Nov. 9, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen, and the state bureau’s investigation began in late November.
Murray County Sheriff Jimmy Davenport said the complaint came from Murray County Schools Superintendent Steve Loughridge.
“I believe there had been a parental complaint,” said Sheriff Davenport.
Davenport then turned the investigation over to the district attorney’s office “to avoid any perception of a conflict,” the Daily Citizen reported. According to Davenport, school resource officers are employed by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office.
The subsequent investigation by the Murray County District Attorney’s Office “revealed the sexual relationship,” prompting them to bring in the GBI.
Agents have not released details about the alleged encounter(s) or what evidence led to Terry’s arrest.
A Murray County Schools spokesperson responded to the allegations in a statement obtained by WTVC.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the criminal charges involving our employee,” said the school district’s spokesperson. “These are extremely serious charges. The safety and well-being of our students are always a top priority for Murray County Schools.”
Murray County Schools communications coordinator Derichia Lynch told the Daily Citizen that Terry is paid $110,000 a year and has worked with the school system for “approximately 22 years.”
Records reviewed by Oxygen.com shows that Terry was booked into the Murray County Detention Center on Nov. 30, where she remains. Bond and attorney information were not immediately available.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Georgie Bureau’s Calhoun Field Office at 1-706-624-1424 or submit a tip online. State agents say the investigation is active and ongoing.
