ATHENS, Tenn. — The principal and secretary of a private school in eastern Tennessee are accused of sexual assault involving a minor, authorities said.
Jason L. Kennedy, 46, of Athens, was charged with two counts of sexual assault by an authority figure and one count of solicitation of a minor, WBIR-TV reported. Kennedy is the principal and a teacher at Liberty Christian Academy in Athens, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said.
Brittany Branham, 28, of Athens, was charged with one count of solicitation of a minor, according to the television station. Branham is a secretary and home-school coordinator at Liberty Christian Academy, Guy said.
MCSO: Principal, secretary of McMinn County private school charged with sex crimes involving a minor https://t.co/xWuX3HxKzv
— WBIR Channel 10 (@wbir) August 26, 2022
“It appears, at this point, the case involves a single juvenile female who was previously a student at Liberty Christian Academy. At this point, the incidents occurred in the Kennedy home where Ms. Branham also lives,” Guy told reporters during a news conference on Friday. “But we are continuing the investigation. It is always possible in cases like this that there may be other victims, and if so we hope they will contact us. We will always work to provide justice, closure, and support for victims of crime.”
Affidavits obtained by WZTV revealed that the victim, now 19, reported the incident to authorities earlier this month. The victim claimed she was underage when the incidents occurred, according to the television station.
The victim said she stayed at Kennedy’s home during the summer of 2019 and 2020, WZTV reported.
Guy did not release any other information about the case.
Kennedy was released after posting $60,000 bail, WCRB-TV reported. Branham was set free after posting bail of $15,000, according to the television station.
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