HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — A former high school teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student has pleaded guilty to statutory rape as part of a plea deal that includes probation and mandatory sex offender registration.
Casey McGrath, 28, was arrested last Friday by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and charged with aggravated statutory rape following an investigation into allegations dating back to May 1, 2022. According to court documents, the victim was between the ages of 13 and 18 at the time.
As part of her plea agreement, McGrath will serve state-supervised probation, must register as a sex offender, and is prohibited from contacting the victim. The case will be dismissed from her record after four years, provided she complies with all conditions of the plea.
McGrath had been suspended with pay in April 2023 while investigators probed allegations of “inappropriate physical contact of a sexual nature” with a student. At the time, she was a math teacher at Central High School, having previously taught at East Ridge Middle School.
On Monday, Hamilton County Schools spokesperson Steve Doremus confirmed that McGrath is no longer employed by the district.
The indictment, received Tuesday, formally outlines McGrath’s alleged conduct and confirms that charges stem from a single incident involving a student under 18.
McGrath’s personnel records revealed she had been under investigation for inappropriate conduct, which did not result in physical harm, according to official documentation.
