The criminal case alleging sexual contact between a minor and a worker from the shelter in Highland Park that housed unaccompanied migrant children was sent to a grand jury Tuesday.
Florencia Guadalupe Renderos Morales, 22, appeared in sessions court Tuesday morning for charges related to allegedly kissing a then-17-year-old who was living at the shelter at the time.
Morales was employed by the Baptiste Group, operating under the name La Casa de Sidney, at the shelter near downtown. The facility faced intense public scrutiny in May and June last year, and the state closed the facility in July after allegations of child abuse were made.
Morales was arrested in July and charged with sexual battery by an authority figure. In September, a second count of sexual battery was leveled against her after law enforcement identified a second potential juvenile victim.
On Tuesday, the court heard testimony from an alleged victim, now 18 years old, who said Morales kissed him several times while he was staying at the shelter in Chattanooga. After the alleged victim left the shelter, he said Morales contacted him and the two had sexual relations while he was living in Alabama.