DA: Parent Asked For Paddling Investigation, Grand Jury Examined Evidence

District Attorney General Jason Lawson said he took information about a Jackson County paddling incident to the Jackson County Grand Jury for a decision on charges.

Dodson Branch Elementary Assistant Principal Tena Lynn and Teacher Jackson Patterson face charges following the early October paddling incident. Both were jailed Tuesday. Both have been placed on administrative leave.

Lawson said the complaint came in from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Children Services. He said the child’s parent made the original complaint to those offices. He said it was then referred to the TBI for investigation.

“The Jackson County Grand Jury is a group of citizens, and they saw the entire case that was being presented by the TBI, including the degree of the injury to the child that is at issue in this case and based on the photographs and based on the evidence that was presented, the Jackson County Grand Jury made the decision the appropriate charge was an assault in this case,” Lawson said.

Lawson said he could not share any other information at this time.

“At the appropriate time we’ll put forth all evidence in court, including the photographs of the injuries and any of the other evidence that we have involving the case and at that time a jury will make a decision,” Lawson said.