An athletic trainer at Sequatchie County High School has been charged with two felony counts after illicit images involving animals and animated children were allegedly found on his cell phone.
Donald Brent Oliver, 57, of Sparta, Tennessee, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual activity with animals, according to jail and court records.
The matter came to light when a school district administrator notified the state Department of Children’s Services and local law enforcement “of an allegation that a former employee had engaged in inappropriate communication with a student via social media,” a letter to parents issued by Director of Schools Sarai Pierce said. The letter doesn’t mention criminal allegations now filed against Oliver.
“We have been working in close coordination with the police on this situation, and the individual is no longer employed by the school district,” Pierce said in the letter.
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In a phone call, Sheriff Bill Phillips said a school resource officer from his department assisted in the investigation, but the District Attorney’s Office led the probe. Meanwhile, Oliver remains behind bars without bond. A person who initially answered the phone listed on Oliver’s booking report hung up on a reporter seeking comment and didn’t answer subsequent calls.
The investigation began June 14 after the school resource officer relayed the allegations of misconduct to District Attorney Courtney C. Lynch, according to a court affidavit on the case. Lynch’s investigator, Jody Lockhart, took up the case.
When the investigation began, Oliver was the athletic trainer at Sequatchie County High School, Lynch said in a statement. Oliver allegedly consented to a search of his cell phone and an analysis was performed by the Dunlap Police Department. The materials seized from the phone stem from multiple instances over “the past few years.”
The analysis allegedly showed Oliver had “several images of animated child pornography,” Lockhart said in the affidavit. “Some of the images are of child caricatures engaged in sexual acts with adult caricatures.”
Allegations relative to animals included “several images and videos of sexual acts with animals,” Lockhart said.
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Oliver was hired in Sequatchie County as an athletic trainer on Sept. 19, 2024, according to requested documents provided by Pierce.
Oliver lost his job in a termination letter from Pierce on June 16 that accused him of violating school system policy while communicating with a student on Snapchat. The termination letter didn’t mention the criminal allegations Oliver faces now.
Pierce told Oliver in the termination letter that on June 12, she had been notified he had sent an “inappropriate Snapchat” to a student with “a string of emojis that suggested sexual innuendos.”
When Pierce tried to reach Oliver, who was in Nashville, and get him to return to Dunlap to discuss the matter, he told the director of schools he was at a conference and had a flat tire, the termination letter said. Afterward, Oliver didn’t answer or return other calls from Pierce, who contended the Snapchat photos had been taken during practice for school athletes.
Pursuant to school board policy, “I am terminating your employment immediately,” Pierce told Oliver.
In a follow-up email, Lynch said no charges were filed in connection with the Snapchat posts.
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School officials urged parents to discuss online communications with their children.
“We are grateful to those who came forward to report this matter,” Pierce said in the letter. “Student safety and well-being are always our highest priority. We encourage all parents and guardians to have open conversations with their children about appropriate online communication and to remind them that if they ever feel uncomfortable about interactions with anyone, they should immediately tell a parent, teacher, staff member or another trusted adult.”
Parents of any child who needs support should reach out to school administrators or counselors, Pierce said.
Oliver has no attorney on record, and his bond will likely be set in General Sessions Court, court officials said. He faces a court date on July 24.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.