UPDATE: A former band teacher for the City of Murfreesboro School System will face 45-charges dealing with the sexual exploitation of a minor next week in court on Tuesday (3/25/14).

You may recall the original story we reported in 2013… Detective Tommy Roberts with the Murfreesboro Police Department was contacted by the Lawrenceburg Sheriff’s Department in April of 2013 in regards to 35-year old Lavar R. Jernigan of Christiana for his alleged illegal involvement with a student.

Jernigan and a minor he allegedly met at a band camp where he was a teacher reportedly had an inappropriate relationship. Detective Roberts recovered a cell phone that Jernigan possessed and upon processing the phone for evidence, multiple images of child pornography were found. The report WGNS obtained in February stated, “Once all the evidence was obtained, the case was presented to the Rutherford County Grand Jury. Mr. Jernigan was indicted on 45-counts involving possession of child porn.” Jernigan is set to appear in Circuit Court on Tuesday (3/25/14) to file a plea.

Looking back to last year when the case was originally opened, Jernigan was first apprehended shortly after the start of morning classes at Hobgood Elementary School and charged with solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. That of course was the start to a long list of charges that were filed after the case came out of the February Grand Jury. When Jernigan was arrested in 2013, he was a band teacher who assisted at Cason Lane Academy, Scales Elementary, and Hobgood Elementary Schools in Murfreesboro. 

The case on Tuesday will be before the Honorable Judge Keith Siskin.

Charges:

• Esp. Aggravated Sexual Exploitation X15 Counts
• Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor X15 Counts
• Sexual Exploitation of a Minor X15 Counts

Source:

Original police arrest report not released
Recent arrest – MPD Arrest Report #14-2322
Original information released by MPD Sgt. Kyle Evans

Court docket information - HERE