Catoosa County Schools dropped investigation two months before teacher's arrest for inappropriate relationship with student

Ashley Pritchett
Ashley Pritchett
photo Ashley Pritchett

Two months after Catoosa County Schools closed an investigation against her, police arrested a Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleading coach for having sex with a student.

According to a release from the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, investigators have obtained evidence that suggests Ashley Pritchett had sex with a student late last year. Someone gave detectives information about the crime two weeks ago, according to the release.

The release does not state what evidence detectives have gathered. Chief Mike Helton did not respond to a request for the incident report tied to the case, which would outline the basic facts leading to the arrest.

In an email, Catoosa County Schools spokeswoman Marissa Brower said Pritchett began working as a math teacher and cheerleading coach at LaFayette-Fort Oglethorpe High School in August 2017. She said the school's administrators started investigating Pritchett after they "were presented with a concern of inappropriate behavior with a student."

"Following protocol, LFO reported the investigation to [the Division of Family and Children Services] on November 8," Brower wrote. "That evening, school officials were informed that the DFACs investigation was 'screened out' and there would be no further action. On November 12th, the school system determined that the report of inappropriate behavior could not be substantiated based on the information that was available."

Regardless, Pritchett resigned Dec. 19 - about a month before someone reported the alleged crime to the police department. On Jan. 22, Brower wrote, a member of the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department called Principal Chance Nix to tell him detectives launched a criminal inquiry into Pritchett's relationship.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has helped Fort Oglethorpe police with the case.

Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.

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