(SMYRNA, TN) A former fifth-grade teacher at John Colemon Elementary School in Smyrna remains free on bond as she awaits her next court date. 24-Year-old Taylor Cruze was indicted on 19 counts of charges that involve crimes against children last year. Prior to her arrest, the first-year teacher was suspended from her position in the Rutherford County Schools on May 2, 2022.
Shortly after the educator was suspended, she was arrested by Detective Marcy Gossett with the Smyrna Police Department. Following her arrest, she was released from jail after posting a $100-thousand bond.
Court documents show that Cruze is facing 5-counts of Exploitation of a Minor by Electronic Means – Under the age of 13, 5-counts of Exploitation of a Minor by Electronic Means, 5-counts of Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 3-counts of Solicitation of Minor - Rape of a Child and 1-count of Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure. All of the charges stem from allegations that date back to July of 2020, when Ms. Cruze was 21-years-of-age.
This past month (February 6, 2023), a Continuance Order was granted by Judge James Turner. Since that time, a status hearing has been scheduled to take place in a Rutherford County Circuit Courtroom on April 14, 2023. At that point we will learn if a trial date has been set.
Source: RC Courts 75CC1-2022-CR-87857
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
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