Former Red Bay school employee indicted on charges of sexual misconduct against students
Red Police Chief Janna Jackson reported that on Nov. 27, 2023, the Red Bay School Resource Officer, Sgt. Eric Seals, received notice of three students making allegations against Donald Roberts, a former Red Bay school employee, for incidents that allegedly took place in a classroom at the Red Bay school.
“On Nov. 28, our investigator, Capt. Kyle Gober, met with parents of the students and school officials and took statements from the students,” explained Jackson, “and later interviewed Mr. Roberts.”
Jackson said all statements were turned over to the Franklin County District Attorney’s office, but it was the Lawrence County District Attorney who presented the case to a Franklin County grand jury, because of the recusal of the Franklin County District Attorney’s office. She noted one student who had made allegations withdrew from pursuing charges before the case was presented to the grand jury.
On Oct. 21, Franklin County District Attorney Jeff Barksdale said he recused himself from involvement in the case because he was a former student of Roberts, noting multiple family members either worked with him or were coached by him. Barksdale noted the attorney general’s office had appointed Lawrence County District Attorney Errek Jett to handle the matter in his place.
“I went to Red Bay High School,” Barksdale explained. “He was a former PE coach of mine, and he coached my sister. He worked with my mother for 30-odd years. I recused our office from it.”
On Oct. 22, Lawrence County DA Errek Jett said Roberts was indicted on two counts of “basically school employee sex with a student” at Red Bay High School. Jett said at that time Roberts was retired but working as a substitute. Jett said as of Oct. 22 that the case had not been set for arraignment, adding while the FC DA had recused himself, the FC judge/court had not done so itself as of that point.
“He has been indicted,” Jett said, adding, “I was appointed by the attorney general when Jeff (Barksdale) recused.”
