Henry Co. teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges
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HENRY COUNTY, Tenn. — A high school teacher charged with having unlawful sexual contact with a student pleaded not guilty Thursday morning. Kevin Smothers, a teacher at Henry County High School, pleaded not guilty to four charges. Smothers is accused of meeting an underage female student in September at which time unlawful sexual contact and solicitation took place, according to a release from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Smothers also is charged with soliciting the girl for sex via text messaging and Instagram between sometime in September and Oct. 27. The judge ruled that Smother’s bond will remain at $100,000. If Smothers makes bond he will have to follow several conditions including no contact with the alleged victim and no contact with any Henry County School System properties. Smothers is charged with sexual battery by an authority figure, two counts of solicitation of a minor to commit statutory rape by an authority figure, and soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. His preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 10.
