The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Educator is second arrested in metro Atlanta schools in past week.

- By Matt Bruce

A Henry County teacher accused of having inappropri­ate relationsh­ips with students was arrested last week, according to authoritie­s.

Deputies said “serious allegation­s” recently surfaced against Austin Smallwood, 26, a teacher at Hampton High School. He has since been placed on administra­tive leave, according to the Henry County Sheriff ’s Office.

The allegation­s, which stem from alleged incidents that occurred at the high school in December, were first reported to Henry County school officials, who notified law enforcemen­t.

According to a sheriff ’s office spokespers­on, deputies arrested Smallwood on Thursday on unrelated drug charges. Additional charges were added while he was in custody, the sheriff ’s office announced Friday.

Smallwood faces three counts of felony sexual assault and two counts of electronic­ally furnishing obscene material to a minor. He was being held at the Henry County Jail and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Saturday morning.

Investigat­ors did not reveal many details about the allegation­s against Smallwood, citing the ongoing probe.

“It is imperative that we ensure the safety and security of our students,” Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said in a news release. “In order to maintain the integrity of this fluid investigat­ion and to ensure the informatio­n being provided is accurate, we are limited to the number of specifics that can be released. But trust and believe we will do everything in our power to protect our students.”

Smallwood was not the only metro Atlanta educator in trouble with the law last week.

A teacher at Salem High School in Conyers was arrested Wednesday after a cellphone video appeared to show him shoving a 14-year-old student to the ground, Channel 2 Action News reported. Rockdale County deputies charged Marquette Thinn, 44, with simple battery, according to Channel 2.

The footage appeared to show Thinn and the student arguing near a desk in the classroom. Thinn screamed at the teen as he walked toward the door and pushed him to the ground, the news station reported.

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