JBO Teacher Charged In Child Porn Case
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Judge: Jonesborough Teacher Collected 12,000...
Judge: Jonesborough Teacher Collected 12,000 Images Of Child Pornography; Most Girls Ages 10-13
Nate Morabito/11 Connects
Former Teacher Charged With Child Pornography
Published: April 30, 2009
Updated: May 1, 2009
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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Reader Reactions
I have a child at the elementary school. I’m there picking him up and dropping off, doing field trips, volunteering my time. But every day I get treated like a convict. I keep waiting to get striped searched!! But they have man like this in the halls?
maybe they’re just watching us closely
i am amazed they are letting us post comments about this article. Usually this website turns them off when it is controversial. Have you noticed…?
What’s become of our Educators? Doesn’t anyone have any morals anymore? It’s so hard to judge cause I can remember when I was in Elementary School I had a lot of crushes on most of my male teachers, especially my gym coach, but that’s another sermon.
I have worked on the frontlines with victims of sex crimes for several years. One thing I can almost guarantee is people don’t just wake up one day and decide to start obtaining child pornography. I have a child in the Washington County school system. I am glad for the security measures. But I find it hard to believe a teacher can work for a school system for 17 years and no one not have a red flag go off. Perhaps Wickso is correct, if Mr. Holcombe’s father works for the Department of Education things were overlooked or buried. This is small town politics after all.
Okay so I went to JMS 13 years ago and I gota say it doesnt surprize me at all. He used to flirt with all the girls in my class of people, be somewhat touchy feely with certain ones. So i am not saying he did it or anything because you are innocent till proven quilty but from my exp being around him and being in his class I am really not surprized!!
Throw this scum under the jail, period. It would be a safe place for him . If it were pictures of my grand kids I’d save the tax payers the court and jail cost.
I just wanted to add a positive comment “one is innocent til proven guilty right” also I had 2 children come thru this school and several neices and nephews ..they all looked up to this man at some point…The girls all thought he was “cute” and the boys thought he was “cool” but I pray we never find out he used his position of authority to commit crimes of any kind.
Will WJHL report on Mr. Holcombe’s father being a high-ranking employee at the Washington County Department of Education? I know several teachers that have known or have come in contact with this man over the years and the consensus was that he was a very creepy man who spent an odd amount of time and strange behavior with young females at the school. WJHL and Mr. Morabito needs to find out if there have been any complaints or any disciplinary actions taken against him since he was an employee and whether his father’s position may have aided him in getting out of trouble or avoiding any undue suspicion that other teachers would have certainly faced.
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