Kenya White, the Chattanooga Preparatory School teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and kidnapping, has been arrested again, this time on federal charges.
White had a hearing Friday in United States District Court in Chattanooga, where a criminal complaint supported by an affidavit was filed accusing him of sexual exploitation of a minor and enticement of a minor, both felony offenses.
White, through his attorney, McCracken Poston, waived his right to a detention hearing, which means he will remain in federal custody.
(READ MORE: Chatt Prep instructor charged with sex crime had no active teaching license)
Prosecutors Charles Minor and James Brooks asked Chief Magistrate Judge Christopher Steger to keep White’s case sealed to protect the victim’s identity, and Poston made no objection.
The case will be brought in front of the grand jury March 11, and the jury will decide whether to indict White.
The arrest happened early Friday, according to Hamilton County booking reports.
The original Hamilton County criminal indictment against White stemmed from alleged incidents at East Lake Academy, a magnet school in the Hamilton County school system. In February 2023, the Chattanooga Police Department and the department of children’s services began looking into the alleged incidents at East Lake.
White was suspended, and at the end of the 2022-23 school year, his contract was not renewed. During the investigation, he was hired as an English teacher at Chatt Prep.
Internal emails at the school, obtained under state public records laws, showed that the human assets officer, Angelnetta Ulmer, notified the school administration that they could not hire White because he was under review by the state board.
“We will need to terminate Mr. White this week,” Ulmer’s email read. “Thursday can be his last day. That’s payday.”
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White remained employed at the school but changed titles from English teacher to academic tutor, according to Chatt Prep’s personnel file on White.
White’s attorney did not respond to a phone call seeking a comment.
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.