A Covington preschool teacher faces an assault charge after deputies say she attacked a non-verbal student at a Tipton County childcare setting, a case that has quickly grabbed local attention.
Authorities say 23-year-old Katherine Elise Turnbow was arrested Tuesday and charged with assaulting the preschooler. According to WREG, she was booked into custody, posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 21 at 9 a.m.
In a statement to WREG, Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley said the sheriff's office "takes allegations involving the safety of children seriously and they will be investigated thoroughly." Deputies say the investigation remains active while prosecutors review the incident.
Legal process and next steps
Turnbow is charged with assault, a criminal case that will move through Tipton County's court system. The allegation has not been proven in court, and she is presumed innocent while the case is pending.
Court paperwork cited by local media indicates she is due in court on May 21 at 9 a.m. for her next appearance, which falls on a Thursday morning. The Tipton County Sheriff's Office says detectives are still gathering information and that the case is ongoing as it is reviewed by prosecutors.
Local context
The arrest comes as Tipton County deals with other high-profile child-safety cases. As reported by Action News 5, deputies arrested a man in March on child sex abuse charges involving his girlfriend's daughter. In cases involving very young or vulnerable children, officials say law enforcement typically coordinates with prosecutors and the Department of Children’s Services.
What’s next
Turnbow's next court appearance is set for Thursday morning, and both court records and local reporters are expected to provide updates following the hearing. This outlet will continue to follow the case and will add official filings and statements as they are made public.
