A sixth-grade math teacher at CHASE Middle School was arrested and charged after Rutherford County deputies say he sent a student sexually explicit material. Jake Barker was booked on one count of disseminating obscenity and was suspended from the district pending further investigation.
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said it learned of an allegation involving a teacher and a student on September 29, and officials said they were made aware of an allegation involving a teacher sharing inappropriate images with a student, according to WSPA. Deputies opened an investigation alongside a school system investigator that same day, as first reported by WLOS. The teacher was identified as Jake Barker, a sixth grade math teacher at CHASE Middle School, per the same account.
Arrest Warrant Details Explicit Video
Arrest warrants say Barker sent a sexually explicit video to a student, the station's report states. Barker was arrested and charged with felony dissemination of obscenity as a result of the investigation.
Following his arrest, Barker was taken to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Detention Center, where he was given a $10,000 secured bond, WYFF4 reported. The investigation started Sept. 29, the outlet noted, confirming the timeline laid out by other local stations.
Teacher Suspended, Status With District Unresolved
Barker remains employed by the school district but was suspended pending further investigation, according to Fox Carolina.
The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be possible, per WSPA's reporting. No further details on the case's progress, a court date, or any additional charges have been made public.
