The attorney for a Tennessee fourth-grade teacher accused of raping a pre-teen says her children were pulled from school after being teased about their mother’s arrest.
Alissa McCommon (38) was arrested last month at her home in Covington where she allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old boy when he spent the night there in 2021.
Several underage victims have come forward to say they were ‘friends’ with their former teacher – who invited them to play video games with her and connected with them on social media apps.
She was arrested again on September 28 after she told the 12-year-old she was pregnant and warned he would ‘regret’ testifying against her.
“She’s a human being and she has a family too,” her attorney Jere Mason told Fox News.
Alissa McCommon (38) was arrested last month at her home in Covington, Tennessee, where she allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old boy when he spent the night there in 2021.
Several underage victims have come forward to say they were ‘befriended’ by their former teacher who sends nude photos and solicits ‘sexual relations with the victims’.
She was arrested again after allegedly harassing the 12-year-old and telling him he would regret going to the authorities.
“And there are probably victims on both sides of this case, regardless of her guilt or innocence.
‘She herself has two minor children.
“They had to pull them out of school, and they experience some ridicule.”
Covington police say the Charger Academy teacher admitted to “communicating inappropriately with former students,” sending nude photos and soliciting “sexual relations with the victims” via social media.
Released on bail after her first arrest, she allegedly called the 12-year-old to tell him: ‘I’m going to raise this baby. I can do it.’
“It was a mistake, it’s my fault,” the caller told him in a text.
“OMG delete this number please don’t get me in trouble.”
Another message read: ‘I’m just really scared, I don’t even know if it’s you or not.
“I will never text you again. You’ll never hear from me again, just please don’t say anything.’
Authorities then charged her with coercion of a witness, aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence and harassment.
Police still looking for more victims ‘friended on social media’
She has since been charged with coercing a witness, aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence and harassment
McCommon’s lawyer Jere Mason knows her family and said ‘my perception has always been they were good people’
Tipton County Court ordered a psychiatric report on McCommon, and she remains in jail until her next scheduled court appearance on November 27.
“The evidence indicates that McCommon messaged a victim and used a specific code word known to the juvenile as a code word that McCommon would previously use to confirm that the juvenile was alone, often before posting nude photos. sent on SnapChat,” the Covington Police Department said. statement.
“After using the code word on September 28, the evidence indicates that McCommon sent several text messages to the victim indicating that he would ‘regret doing this.’
“McCommon, with the same number, also admitted to having a sexual encounter with the victim.”
The mother of two was a fourth grade teacher at Charger Academy – an elementary school in Covington, Tennessee.
She taught English and Language Arts at the school until the district suspended her without pay on Aug. 24 — though she eventually resigned.
Tipton County Director of Schools John Combs said: “A parent came forward with allegations of misconduct on the morning of Thursday, August 24th and the teacher was suspended without pay later that same morning pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The threatening phone call to the 12-year-old was recorded, and played aloud in court during an Oct. 3 hearing.
But her lawyer insists the voice is not hers and that the text messages could have come from anyone.
“It’s not a registered phone, it’s just a random number,” Mason told Fox News Digital.
“Someone in the text thread claimed they were Alissa, and then they tried to infer that there were some code words used that were previously used by her in communication with some of the youths.”
Mason, who bills himself as ‘The Kickin’ Lawyer’ on his law firm’s website, admitted he knows McCommon’s husband ‘very well’ after they worked together as sheriff’s deputies.
“My perception has always been that they were good people,” he added.
And regardless of her guilt or innocence, any person in this situation would be under extreme mental stress.
‘And I just have to defend her properly. I need to know that my client understands everything and is in the right mind about everything.’
McCommon was a fourth grade English and Language Arts teacher at Charger Academy – an elementary school in Covington, Tennessee.
Tipton County Court ordered a psychiatric report on McCommon, and she remains in jail until her next scheduled court appearance on November 27.
“This is a very difficult case for everyone,” the lawyer added.
‘These allegations are appalling, especially someone we trust with the care and education of our children.
‘But I just wish the public would be patient and let the justice system take its course, and in time evidence will either come out or it won’t. And justice will be done one way or another.’