A grand jury in Rhea County has issued indictments against Tracy Vest, the former girls’ basketball coach at Rhea County High School, on multiple counts of child sexual abuse.
Charges and Allegations
Vest faces three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, stemming from incidents alleged to have occurred between March 13 and March 26.
Principal Ansley Massengill confirmed that Vest is no longer employed by the school district, noting that his departure was voluntary a few months ago and that the school has cooperated fully with investigators.
While the indictment details the alleged abuse, authorities have not released any information about the identity or number of victims, citing standard confidentiality protections for minors in juvenile cases.
The case has drawn attention from local parents and community members, many of whom expressed shock and demanded swift justice. Legal experts say the charges, if convicted, could result in a substantial prison sentence.