VIDEO: School employee arrested for alleged inappropriate online activity

BENTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Officials have confirmed a school employee has been arrested for alleged inappropriate online activity.

Benton County Schools shared a statement to social media on Wednesday evening addressing the situation. See their full response below.

Additionally, a video that appeared on YouTube by Predator Poachers Illinois depicts his encounter with law enforcement. See the video below (viewer discretion is advised).

FROM BENTON COUNTY SCHOOLS (8/20/25 5pm):

Subject: Update Regarding Employee Arrest

Dear Families and Staff,

I am writing to share that the Benton County Sheriff’s Office has notified the school district that one of our Big Sandy School maintenance employees has been arrested for alleged inappropriate online activity.

On July 31, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office informed the district of an active investigation involving the employee. The employee was immediately suspended at that time. On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office notified us that the individual had been formally arrested and charged.

While there is currently no indication that any Benton County Schools students were involved in the alleged crime, we understand that this news may be troubling. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students remains one of our top priorities. We continue to work closely with law enforcement officials to support their investigation.

Because this is an ongoing legal matter, and in accordance with federal and state privacy laws, we cannot share further details at this time. Thank you for your attention to this important update.

Sincerely,

Mark Florence
Director of Schools

CONTENT WARNING: May include offensive language; viewer discretion advised.

For more local news, click here.