WHITE COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD SEX CRIMES
From 13th District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway
“In October 2023, it was reported to law enforcement that a White County middle school teacher, known as Austin Damon Allen had sent pictures of a sexual nature to female middle school students. An investigation was commenced which led to evidence to support those allegations and much more. Austin Damon Allen had committed numerous serious crimes that are considered child sexual abuse. He was arrested on October 27, 2023 and has been in custody since that day.
As the investigation progressed, evidence was presented to the White County Grand Jury. On January 4, 2024, the White County Grand Jury issued a True Bill of Indictment charging Austin Damon Allen with multiple counts of sexual crimes against his victims.
Today, January 21, 2025, AUSTIN DAMON ALLEN, appeared before White County Criminal Court where he entered a plea of GUILTY to the following crimes:
- 1. Four (4) counts of Rape of a Child;
- 2. Two (2) counts of Soliciting Sexual Exploitation of a minor;
- 3. One (1) count of Especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.
At the time he committed these crimes he was employed as a 7th grade middle school teacher in White County. His three victims are all girls who were 12 years old at the time of the crime.
Austin Allen was sentenced to serve a Forty-Five (45) year sentence at 100%. He will be listed on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry for life.
The parents of victims involved in this case were consulted throughout the process; they are all supportive of the terms of the plea entered today.
The lead investigator was Criminal Investigator Chris Isom with the District Attorney Generals Office. Other agencies involved in the investigation include the White County Sheriffs Office, the Dept. of Children’s Services, the Upper Cumberland Child Advocacy Center, all members of the Child Protective Investigative Team. This case was prosecuted by District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Krebs.
Child abuse and child sexual abuse are crimes most often committed by persons who occupy positions of trust who have access to children, as in this case, the offender was a school teacher. These type of offenders often use social media to establish relationships with their child victims in order to open opportunity for abuse. Austin Allen did this. Please be always observant of signs of unusual or inappropriate behavior. Keep an eye on your child’s social media messaging. Talk to your children. The law requires the reporting of suspected abuse. If you see something, you have to say something. Children deserve to be protected.”
