Chattanooga first grade teacher accused of sex crimes in class

Courtroom photo of Duane Sanders, former first grade teacher charged with crimes against his students.

May 29, 2025 - News Channel 9

CHATTANOOGA. Tn. — “Duane Sanders is charged with committing 19 different crimes against 9 of his students. Those charges include continuous sexual abuse of a child and aggravated sexual battery.” Two former students and a mother of one of the students shared their stories with a jury in Chattanooga Thursday morning.

“In all, Duane Sanders, who taught first grade, is charged with 19 separate sex crimes, including continuous sexual abuse of a child and aggravated sexual battery.

After Sanders entered his plea to charges he sexually abused young boys, the prosecution said evidence would show the first grade teacher normalized and sometimes rewarded sexual contact with young students.”

News Chanel 9 reported that Sanders had been employed at 5 schools across the Hamilton County Schools district:

  • Wallace A. Smith Elementary

  • East Brainerd Elementary

  • Westview Elementary

  • East Side Elementary

  • Wolftever Elementary

Read the full story here and here.

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Garritt Hampton

Host of the Thinking Dad podcast. Christian husband, dad, homeschool advocate. Director of Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution. Soli Deo gloria!

https://SchoolhouseRocked.com
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