A Jeff Davis County teacher has been arrested after authorities received allegations of inappropriate contact with a student, officials said Friday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation charged Fernando Chavez, 31, of Hazlehurst, with one count each of improper sexual contact with a student and interference with custody. Chavez was booked into the Jeff Davis County Jail. The Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI on Friday to investigate allegations involving Chavez, who was employed as a teacher by Jeff Davis County Schools. According to the GBI, the alleged contact occurred away from school grounds during the previous school year. Authorities did not release further details about the allegations or identify the student. Jeff Davis County Schools said it began an investigation immediately after learning of the allegations and contacted the Sheriff’s Office and the GBI. “As of today, the employee is no longer serving in any capacity at Jeff Davis High School or within Jeff Davis County Schools,” the district said in a statement issued Friday. The district did not specify whether Chavez resigned or was dismissed. School officials said the district takes such allegations seriously and emphasized that student safety and well-being remain its highest priorities. Anyone with information may contact the GBI’s Regional Investigative Office in Douglas at 912-389-4103. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), through the GBI’s online tip portal or…
*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).
