Henry Co. teacher enters plea deal on sex charges, avoids prison time

PARIS, Tenn. — A judge hands down a sentence this week after a Henry County teacher accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with several students enters a plea deal that keeps him out of prison.

Kevin Smothers

Kevin Smothers, 26, entered the plea deal Tuesday in Henry County Circuit Court.

Smothers pleaded guilty to three counts of solicitation of a minor and one count of criminal attempt to commit statutory rape by an authority figure, according to the circuit court clerk.

Judge Donald Parish sentenced Smothers to one year on the solicitation counts and three years on the criminal attempt to commit statutory rape by an authority figure count.

Smothers also must register himself as a range one sex offender for 10 years.

Judge Parish sentenced Smothers to serve the three years concurrently on state supervised probation. He did not issue a fine.

Court documents say 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.

The system’s superintendent has confirmed Smothers is no longer employed by the school system as of the end of the school year. His attorney says he has surrendered his teaching license.