An Order of Detention filed in Greeneville Federal Court reveals new information about the former Jonesborough Middle School teacher indicted on child pornography charges.
A federal grand jury in Greeneville indicted Anthony Kent Holcombe of Jonesborough, Tennessee. He is charged with distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. Holcombe resigned his position at Jonesborough Middle School and will be detained in federal custody until his trial, which is set for June 25 in U.S. District Court in Greeneville, TN.
According to Hocombe's Order of Detention, United States Magistrate Judge Dennis Inman says investigators found more than 12,000 images of child pornography, as well as video on Holcombe's computer.
"Evidence at the detention hearing on April 29, 2009, established that Mr. Holcombe had 12,125 still images of child pornography and 25 video files of child pornography on his computer," U.S. Attorney's Office Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard said. "Virtually all of the child pornography depicted girls aged 10-13, which corresponds to the ages of his students at (Jonesborough Middle School). There was no evidence that Mr. Holcombe produced child pornography."
If convicted, Holcombe faces a prison term of not less than five years and not more than 20 years on the first two counts, and a maximum term of 10 years on the third count, plus fines of up to $250,000 for each count and lifetime supervised release on each count.
Before Holcombe resigned for personal reasons in February from his teaching job at Jonesborough Middle School, he was a reading teacher and track coach. According to Holcombe's personnel file, he first started working for the school system in 1992. Still, in his 17 years, Washington County Director of Schools Ron Dykes says no students, parents, or co-workers accused Holcombe of any misconduct while at school.
"His evaluations were excellent," Dykes said. "I had no knowledge of any allegations that have been brought against him of inappropriate conduct."
Since Holcombe's resignation, Dykes says the man has not stepped foot back on campus or in the classroom.
David Stevens says his now high school daughter was in one of Holcombe's classes last year at the middle school.
"It's unfortunate for the kids, it's unfortunate for the schools, and in this country, you're innocent until proven guilty, so I don't pass judgment on anybody, but it's an unfortunate situation for the school," Stevens said. "My daughter, she always thought highly of Mr. Holcombe."
Holcombe's attorney Richard Pectol says although prosecutors presented evidence that Holcombe received child pornography, at this point, "We have not seen any evidence of distribution; that he was sending out any child pornography."
That said, Pectol says he is just in the beginning stages of reviewing all of the government's evidence. As for Judge Inman's order to keep Holcombe detained, Pectol offered his reaction: "We were not surprised at the ruling of the magistrate yesterday to detain our client," Pectol said. "That happens in all cases of this nature."
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