Henry Co. teacher waives preliminary hearing on sex charges
PARIS, Tenn. — A Henry County High School teacher, now on unpaid leave, accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with several students, appeared in court on Thursday. His case will now go before the grand jury.
Kevin Smothers, 26, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in a Henry County courtroom on Thursday. He faces 10 counts, some of which include sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape by an authority figure, and soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor.
“It’s a serious case,” Attorney Mark Donahoe said. “We treat it as a serious case. We’re gonna go forward and defend it as vigorously as we can.”
Donahoe represents Smothers. He said they decided not to have a preliminary hearing because the prosecution agreed to give him information that would not normally be available at this time.
“They provided me with essentially the information that they would have presented at the hearing today,” Donahoe said.
Court documents said Smothers had inappropriate sexual contact with four female students, once in his classroom at Henry County High School. Investigators said Smothers also sent messages containing sexually explicit videos and pictures.
Smothers is currently out of jail on a $100,000 bond. The judge said he cannot have contact with any of the alleged victims, no contact with all Henry County school properties, no alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances, and he cannot leave the state without contacting his attorney.
The case is scheduled to go before the grand jury on July 5. Smothers will return to court on July 11.
