DESOTO COUNTY – A former DeSoto County Schools employee has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony following an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse material on a school-issued phone, according to WMC.
Court records show the FBI notified the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 10 that a district employee was suspected of possessing child sexual abuse material.
The employee, Brannon Rushing, worked as a residency investigator in the district office. DeSoto County Schools said he was not assigned to a school and did not supervise students.
According to an affidavit, investigators searched Rushing’s district-issued phone and found a Kik group chat containing sexually explicit discussions involving minors. Investigators also reported finding photographs of a girl who appeared to be about 10 years old.
The affidavit states that messages in the chat showed Rushing discussing a sexual interest in a child with other group members.
The school district said law enforcement notified officials of potential charges Sept. 10. Although authorities indicated the allegations were unrelated to Rushing’s work in the residency department, the district terminated his employment that day.
Rushing is charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
