More Victims Coming Forward After Tennessee Elementary School Gym Teacher Arrested and Charged with Child Rape, Sheriff’s Office Says

by | Jan 14, 2026

An elementary school teacher at Decaturville Elementary School was arrested and charged with one count of rape of a child last week, the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office said.

Alan Maxwell, who is listed as a physical education teacher on the elementary school’s website, was arrested by deputies with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office at his Parsons residence after the sheriff’s office received a warrant for the teacher’s arrest by the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

While no information has been released regarding what led to Maxwell’s arrest, the sheriff’s office said it arrested Maxwell (pictured above) after it was “notified of an alleged criminal incident involving an employee of the Decatur County School System.”

After the sheriff’s office notified the Decatur County School System of the charges against the elementary school teacher, the Decatur County School System immediately placed Maxwell on administrative leave and prohibited him from all school campuses and from having any contact with school staff or students.

“The district is fully cooperating with the Sheriff’s Office and conducting its own review in accordance with state law and district policy,” Decatur County Schools said in a statement.

“Our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and school community. Additional support will be available across all campuses, with additional counseling resources on-site at Decaturville Elementary School and Riverside High School for any students or staff who may need assistance during this time,” the school system added.

On Tuesday, the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office said Maxwell got transferred to another holding facility and, since his arrest last week, “several additional victims have come forward in connection with this case.”

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter

 

 

 

   
This article may be republished only in its entirety and only with proper attribution to State News Foundation.

Written By Kaitlin Housler

Journalist

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