By Patti Dozier
THOMASVILLE — A 22-year-old male Thomas County Central High School (TCCHS) paraprofessional was fired Friday in connection with a criminal case involving a 16-year-old female student.
Christopher Ryan White, 152 Cove Landing Drive, was arrested during questioning at the Jail-Justice Center Monday morning and charged with electronically furnishing obscene material to a minor, a high misdemeanor. He was released from the Thomas County Jail on an $1,100 bond.
About 11 a.m. Friday, the student told a TCCHS teacher she was being bothered by a staff member, a Thomas County Sheriff’s Office incident report shows.
The sheriff’s office and Georgia Bureau of investigation were notified within minutes of the incident being reported to school officials.
White is charged with sending a photograph of male genitalia to the student’s cell phone. The photo was preceded by a suggestive text message, said Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator.
“They had worked together in the past,” Watkins said about the teen and White. “That’s how he had her cell phone number.”
White was a parapro in the TCCHS mass communications program. After being interviewed by school system officials and law enforcement officers, he was fired. The female and a parent also were interviewed, Green said.
“We had enough cause to terminate him,” said Dr. Larry Green, Thomas County School superintendent.
White worked with students who produce student news, tailgate and radio shows and film football games.
“From outward appearances, the young man seemed to be doing a good job with students,” Green told the Times-Enterprise Monday. White turned out quality work, Green added.
No prior complaints had been made about White, who was hired in August.
The school system had not received results of a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check on White. The FBI also was conducting a fingerprint check on the former employee.
“We do not have a report back yet,” Green said.
White signed a form authorizing the background check. “He indicated on that form no prior arrests in any area,” the superintendent said.
Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.
