Attorney: Correctional officer, accused rapist to enter not guilty plea

McNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. — James Bradley Fitzgerald, accused of rape of a child, aggravated child abuse, incest and sexual exploitation of a minor, was scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

Fitzgerald’s attorney, D.J. Norton, says the suspect will enter a not guilty plea at his preliminary hearing, which was rescheduled for Aug. 11.

According to CCA officials, Fitzgerald was employed by Hardeman County Correctional Facility at the time of his arrest, and was separated from employment June 12.

“At this time, we will not be asking for a bond reduction,” Norton said. “We may do that in the future. I was just retained yesterday, and he’d enter a plea of not guilty and he’d like to set a preliminary hearing date.”

Fitzgerald was arrested in June when officials with the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department said someone saw cell phone video of Fitzgerald and a female child in explicit sexual situations. The witness took the cell phone, belonging to Fitzgerald, to the sheriff’s office to report two videos that involved Fitzgerald and his young victim, according to that report.

Fitzgerald is still being held in the McNairy County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.