Former Tennessee Teacher Indicted For Indecent Exposure; Another Charged With Abuse, Neglect

Image Credit: Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office & Canva.

Article by The Tennessee Conservative News Staff –

Tennessee school districts continue to be plagued by charges brought against teachers within their districts. 

A former teacher at Morristown-Hamblen High School West faces charges of indecent exposure after already being charged with sexual battery.

According to an indictment returned on September 14, 2026, by a Hamblen County grand jury, Dennis Gregory Cupp was charged with one count of indecent exposure after allegedly exposing his genitals to an individual in a public place on or around October 20, 2025.

Cupp was arrested in August 2025 for sexual battery by an authority figure after he was said to have made sexual contact with a female student using a ruler. The incident was observed by two witnesses, and Cupp admitted to it when interviewed by investigators. 

Cupp, who began working in Hamblen County Schools as a custodian, was immediately removed from the classroom and suspended from all duties pending an investigation.

Another Tennessee school district, however, is not moving as quickly to remove a potential offender from the classroom.

Despite being accused of child abuse, neglect, and assault, Lavanda Renee Rife is still employed with Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools as a special education teacher. 

Rife was indicted by a grand jury on charges of child abuse, neglect, endangerment of a child 8 years old or less and assault on June 1, 2026. The incident allegedly took place on April 10.

The school system says Rife has not been fired because she is entitled to due process. They say she was placed on administrative leave on April 9, 2026, pending an “open DCS investigation, court proceedings, and a pending internal investigation.”

Fox 17 questioned the discrepancy of the district’s alleged suspension date of April 9 while the indictment listed the incident date as April 10, but as of their report, that had not been answered by CMCSS.

DCS also told Fox17 that there was no pending investigation with their department.

Parents have asked for answers but the school district has been less than forthcoming and details of the alleged incident remain hidden.

Rife is scheduled for a settlement hearing on November 6, 2026.

Sources:

FOX 17.

WVLT.