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Written by: E. George
Published January 10, 2024 @ 9:30 PM ET
SPALDING COUNTY, Ga. – On December 15, 2023, Spalding County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year-old Rehoboth Road Middle School teacher Tierra Michelle Harris for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student. The eighth grader’s mother said she caught him “sneaking back into her home at approximately 5:00” AM.
She explained that she looked through her son’s phone and “came across text messages indicating that [he] was having inappropriate relations with one of his teachers.” The boy’s grandmother entered the residence and said she “and her husband pay for the phone.”
As an authorized account holder, she gave the deputy verbal consent to search through the phone. “Some of the messages indicated [the juvenile] and an adult kissed. Another message indicated that someone by the name of “Ms. T” was having inappropriate conversations and relations with [the juvenile].”
One message “stated she’s an adult and you’re a kid, so you can’t say no.”
Harris, a Riverdale resident, faces charges of sexual exploitation of children, child molestation, aggravated child molestation, and theft by receiving stolen property.
The Griffin – Spalding County School System shared a statement confirming that Harris is no longer employed in the school district. They say she was hired as a contracted worker in July through a staffing service and taught eighth-grade math.
This case is currently pending in court.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On 12/15/2023 at approximately 0600 hours I, Deputy Kyle Rhodes was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Moose Lodge Rd Lot #[REDACTED] in reference to inappropriate activity between her minor son and his teacher. Upon arrival I made contact with [REDACTED] W/F DOB: /1985 who stated she caught her son, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] sneaking back into her home at approximately 0500 hours.
[REDACTED] advised me that she took the phone her son uses and began looking through it to see where he had been at. [REDACTED] advised me she came across text messages indicating that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was having inappropriate relations with one of his teachers. [REDACTED] advised me that her son is in 8th grade and currently goes to Rehoboth Road Middle School.
[REDACTED] unlocked the phone and handed it to me and told me to look through the messages. [REDACTED] advised me that the contact the messages were exchanged with is from female friend who he previously went to school with and is about the same age. At this time grandmother [REDACTED] W/F DOB: /1965 entered the residence and stated she and her husband pay for the phone [REDACTED BY AGENCY] uses and she is an authorized account holder for the phone.
[REDACTED] gave me verbal consent to look through the phone. The contact was listed as [REDACTED]. Some of the messages indicated [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and an adult kissed. Another message indicated that someone by the name of “ms T” was having inappropriate conversations and relations with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. A message from [REDACTED] stated she’s an adult and you’re a kid so you can’t say no.
I contacted Sergeant Brandon Lummus who stated I needed to contact the on-call investigator and they would advise further. I contacted Investigator Phillips who stated he would be at the location shortly. Investigator Phillips arrived at the residence and the scene was turned over to him.
[End of Narrative]
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