TENNESSEE FIRST GRADE TEACHER INDICTED ON MULTIPLE SEX CHARGES

Hamilton County, TN – On March 3, 2023, Detectives in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services were notified of an allegation of inappropriate behavior from a teacher at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School. The teacher was identified as Duane Sanders, a 1st-grade teacher at the elementary school.

During the course of the investigation, several children were identified as potential victims.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have been working with the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office and on March 20, 2023, a Hamilton County Grand Jury handed down a multiple-count indictment for Duane Sanders.

According to a post by the HCSO, Duane Sanders has been taken into custody by Investigative Services and Fugitive Unit personnel and is awaiting booking at the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. He is being charged with:

1 count of aggravated rape of a child,
4 counts of aggravated sexual battery, and
5 counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

This is currently an ongoing investigation, and it is possible there could be more child victims who have yet to be discovered. If anyone has any information regarding this investigation or if they know of a child who may have been a victim, please contact Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at 423-622-0022.