Students at East Coweta High School went to administrators with serious concerns about what they said happened inside a classroom, and by late Wednesday their Health and Physical Education teacher was facing an indecent exposure charge and had been pulled from the classroom.
Coweta County deputies opened an investigation after the student reports, and school officials placed the teacher on administrative leave while that probe plays out. The concerns came from students in a Health and Physical Education class, and parents were notified by letter. In that letter, the principal urged students to speak up immediately if they ever feel unsafe or see something that crosses the line.
According to a letter to parents, as reported by WSB‑TV, East Coweta High School Principal Stephen Allen identified the teacher as Lewis McCarty and said the school worked with the Coweta County Sheriff's Office on the investigation. School officials did not release additional details about the allegations while the investigation continues.
“Our school system’s emphasis on safety and the well‑being of students and staff remains an utmost priority,” Allen wrote in the letter, and he urged students to come forward with any concerns, the letter said as reported by WSB‑TV.
What the Charge Means Under Georgia Law
Georgia's public indecency statute - O.C.G.A. § 16‑6‑8 - prohibits a "lewd exposure of the sexual organs" and related conduct and is generally prosecuted as a misdemeanor, though repeated offenses can be charged as felonies, according to Georgia Code § 16‑6‑8. Whether a conviction would require registration on the state's sexual‑offender registry depends on statutory classification and circumstances, and the registration rules are set out in O.C.G.A. § 42‑1‑12.
How the School and Authorities Are Responding
The Coweta County School System posts formal complaint procedures and mandated‑reporting guidance that spell out how students and parents can raise safety concerns with the district. Those materials are available on the district site, including the system’s complaint procedures and its mandated‑reporting guidance.
The principal said administrators moved quickly once the student concerns were raised and that McCarty was placed on administrative leave while Coweta County deputies investigate.
Broader Context
The arrest lands at a time of heightened scrutiny of alleged educator misconduct in Georgia this year. For example, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of a Wayne County teacher on related sexual‑misconduct charges in April, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The Coweta County Sheriff's Office and the Coweta County School System did not immediately release further details beyond the principal's letter, and the investigation remains active. Parents with concerns are being directed to contact school administrators or local law enforcement for updates.
