A state trooper from north of Cookeville was arrested today for having sex with an underage girl while he was off duty. State officials say they’re reacting strongly, in part out of concern for the reputation of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The 11-year THP veteran’s arrest for alleged statutory rape and exploitation marks a second blemish for troopers in the Cookeville area this month. THP Colonel Tracy Trott called the latest case “embarrassing,” and says he wants to move the Cookeville office past it.
“There are some things going on there that we’re not real happy about. I’ve got a meeting scheduled next Tuesday to address all the supervisors in Cookeville. We will be naming the new captain next week. And we’re going to move on.”
Last week the district’s captain was demoted and another trooper was reassigned after they didn’t properly report a separate incident. Officials won’t say what happened in that case yet because a prosecutor is still investigating.
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The former trooper, who resigned in lieu of being fired, has pleaded not guilty. District Attorney Randy York told reporters “He is charged with two class D felonies, which carry 2-4 years. He is charged with one class C felony, which carries 3-6 years. And he’s charged with two class B felonies, which carries 8-12 years,” and are a non-paroleable offense.
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