Allegations of an improper relationship with a student landed a former Rhea County (Tenn.) Middle School teacher behind bars on statutory rape charges after the grand jury met this week.
Billy Hoffman, 39, formerly a seventh-grade teacher at Rhea County Middle, is charged with two counts of aggravated statutory rape by an authority figure and two counts of aggravated statutory rape, according to Rhea County Sheriff's Office Detective Rocky Potter.
Billy Hoffman, a Rhea Middle teacher charged with statutory rape. Hoffman turned himself in Tuesday on a grand jury indictment charging him with the offenses and was released later the same day on $50,000 bond.
The suspicious relationship was reported to authorities by the principal of Rhea County Middle School in early May after he had a conversation with Hoffman about the initial allegations. Potter said the principal felt what he uncovered about the relationship should be handed over to law enforcement.
"I was able to work the case through the month of May," Potter said on Tuesday. "I spoke with [Assistant District Attorney] Jimmy Pope and he agreed with us that there was more than enough evidence to bring to the June grand jury."
Potter said the relationship between the teacher and victim was not a long-term one. The victim was not a student in any classes taught by Hoffman, and the former teacher has no prior criminal record, he said.
Director of Schools Jerry Levengood was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, according to officials in the Rhea County Schools central office in Dayton.
Hoffman is free on bond and has an upcoming date in Criminal Court.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.