Former school ROTC instructor arrested on sex charges

A former ROTC instructor at Brainerd High School has been arrested and accused of having sex with a student.

Steven Hughley was arrested Friday on three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office detectives, along with investigators from the Chattanooga Police Department, conducted a joint investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual contact reported by the victim, sheriff's spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said.

"The alleged incidents occurred at several different locations in Hamilton County, including Mr. Hughley's residence," Ms. Atkinson said in a written statement.

"The sexual contact with the victim started in 2008 and continued through 2009, while Mr. Hughley was the ROTC instructor at Brainerd High School and where the victim was a student," Ms. Atkinson said.

"Hughley was arrested at CCA Silverdale Corrections Center earlier today where he was currently employed," said Chattanooga police spokeswoman Lt. Kim Noorbergen. He was taken to the Hamilton County Jail, she said.

The victim is a 17-year-old girl, Lt. Noorbergen said, and is not named here in accordance with Times Free Press policy on naming sex-crime victims.

The victim said that "Hughley began their relationship while he was a teacher at Brained High School," Lt. Noorbergen said.

Hamilton County School System spokeswoman Danielle Clark deferred comment on the matter to the sheriff's office since it is now a criminal investigation.

The sexual contact with the victim continued even after the suspect resigned his ROTC post, Ms. Atkinson said.

Since the school system's central office closed at 2 p.m. Friday, Ms. Clark said she could not say what was in Mr. Hughley's personnel file or give details on the nature of his resignation.

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