Alissa McCommon allegedly raped a young boy and sexually pursued students after making friends with them playing video games, police said. (Mugshot from Sept. 8, 2023, arrest; Photo on the left is from her Sept. 28, 2023 arrest. Courtesy of the Covington Police Department)
A former elementary school teacher in Tennessee, out on bond while facing criminal charges after being accused of preying on students and abusing one in her home, has been rearrested for stalking one of the children.
Alissa McCommon, 38, was arrested on Thursday at her home in Covington, northeast of Memphis, on new criminal charges of coercion of a witness, aggravated stalking, and harassment, the Covington Police Department said in a news release on Thursday. She was booked into the Tipton County Jail without bond.
She was initially arrested on Sept. 8 on a charge of rape of a child, then posted bond. She was released from custody on the condition that she have no contact with the victim or any minors other than her own children, authorities said.
But authorities said they learned this week that she had texted a victim from an unknown phone number, using a code word known to the juvenile as one she previously used to confirm the child was alone — often before sending nude photos on Snapchat.
She allegedly used the code word on Thursday and sent multiple text messages to the victim indicating he would “regret doing this,” police said.
McCommon, using the same number, also admitted to a sexual encounter with the victim, police said.
“The actions of McCommon are not only appalling, but CPD is also concerned about this apparent violation of her bond conditions,” Covington Police Chief Donna Turner said. “Due to the nature of the communications, we are concerned others may have been contacted.”
Her defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime, but he previously said she maintains her innocence.
“We believe that it’s borderline a witch hunt on social media, and that’s frustrating to us,” lawyer Jere Mason said, according to Memphis CBS affiliate WREG. “What we’re asking is that the public be patient and allow the justice system to do its job and not create further persecution on the alleged victims or on the family of the defendant.”
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Police said they expect to file more charges after multiple victims alleged their former teacher befriended them — playing video games and engaging on social media — then sending them inappropriate photos and requesting sexual relations, police said.
There’s no evidence any of the interactions happened on a school campus, police said.
McCommon allegedly sexually abused a boy 12 years or under at her home in 2021, Covington Police Chief Donna Turner said, WREG reported.
“It is unbearable,” she said. “It’s unspeakable, and it’s 100 percent preventable.”
McCommon taught fifth grade at Crestview Elementary until this school year, according to the Covington Leader. She reportedly joined Charger Academy, teaching fourth-grade English/Language arts. That’s where she was working when the school district suspended her without pay on Aug. 24. She ultimately resigned, the paper reported.
Without naming McCommon or detailing the allegations, Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley and the Tipton County Director of Schools John Combs previously confirmed an investigation into one of the teachers.
“A parent brought forth allegations of misconduct on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 24, and the teacher was suspended without pay later that same morning pending the outcome of the investigation,” Combs said, according to The Covington Leader.
Law&Crime’s Alberto Luperon contributed to this report.
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