Former teacher pleads guilty to statutory rape

Classroom tile
Classroom tile
photo Richard Kyle Copeland

A former teacher at Bradley Central High School pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of statutory rape and attempted statutory rape.

Richard Kyle Copeland, 34, an assistant coach and teacher, was placed on suspension in the fall of 2013. Authorities said a female student under the age of 18 contacted the Bradley County Sheriff's Office saying she had an inappropriate relationship with Copeland.

According to a news release, three other students made similar allegations against Copeland.

The Bradley County grand jury originally indicted Copeland in 2013 on four counts of solicitation of a minor for statutory rape by an authority figure, and three counts of solicitation of a minor for sexual exploitation of a minor.

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