Moment: Teacher Alissa McCommon is arrested in front of her husband for raping a 12-year-old boy as lawyer denounces ‘witch hunt’

A TEACHER has been arrested on rape charges after being accused of sexual misconduct with “several teenagers”, police say.

Authorities handcuffed 38-year-old Alissa McCommon in front of her husband on Friday for allegedly raping a 12-year-old boy at their Tennessee home in 2021.

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Covington police said they were under investigation after several allegations of inappropriate contact with minors were made against them.

McCommon was charged with one felony count of rape of a child. The agency wrote in a Facebook post that additional charges are pending against the mother of two children.

McCommon was booked into the county jail and posted $25,000 bond Saturday.

She is scheduled to appear before a judge on Wednesday.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services called police last month about the allegations against McCommon involving her and a former student.

McCommon was suspended from her job at Challenger Academy without pay after a parent made allegations of abuse, school officials said.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who may have been affected by the events outlined by law enforcement,” Tipton County Deputy Superintendent Rebekah Byrd said in a statement.

According to a criminal complaint, the now 16-year-old student and his parents met with police on August 24th.

The boy said he spent the night at McCommon’s home in 2021 and at some point during the night the teacher woke him up and sexually assaulted him, the affidavit said.

Police said “several teenage victims” have now come forward claiming McCommon played video games with them online in an attempt to befriend them.

The teacher allegedly communicated with the boys via social media apps, sent inappropriate photos and “encouraged sexual relationships,” police said.

In an interview with investigators, McCommon allegedly admitted to “inappropriately communicating with former students.”

“It’s unbearable. It is unspeakable and 100 percent preventable. I think that’s why investigators and we are so passionate about making sure the victims are OK,” said Covington Police Chief Donna Turner WREG.

However, McCommon’s lawyers say he has maintained her innocence.

“We believe this is a witch hunt on social media and that frustrates us,” said defense attorney Jere Mason.

“We urge the public to be patient and allow the justice system to do its job and not bring about further persecution of the alleged victims or the defendant’s family.”

The McCommon investigation was multi-jurisdictional and included the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, which handled the case of victims who were “exposed to similar circumstances” and located outside Covington city limits.

Police said they do not believe the alleged activities occurred on school grounds, but further information could not be released to protect the privacy of the victims.

Turner said the investigation was ongoing and called it “horrific exploitation and abuse.”

“We expect to also continue to develop the investigation to determine the responsibility of other adults in the case, including those who were aware of the abuse and those who permitted or provided venues for such illegal acts,” Turner said.

“I am grateful for the continued assistance of Tipton County School officials throughout this investigation.”

Turner also spoke with the U.S. Attorney’s Office about potentially pursuing “appropriate federal charges.”

“We will pursue this case to the fullest extent possible and will continue to support the victims and their families in all aspects of the investigation,” she said.

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