Taylor Cruze, a 5th-grade teacher at John Colemon Elementary School facing 19 sex crimes

A Smyrna grand jury has indicted a teacher employed by Rutherford County Schools on 19 counts of sex crimes.

Rutherford County Schools (RCS) claimed that Taylor Cruze, a 5th-grade teacher at John Colemon Elementary School, is accused of inappropriate explicit communications and sexual contact with pupils. On May 2, 2022, she was placed on unpaid leave as a result of the police investigation.

Cruze was initially charged with the offenses in August, and the Rutherford County Court Record System shows that her arraignment happened on August 29th.

Cruze faces the following sex crime charges:

• Five counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means – Under 13
• Five counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means
• Five counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor
• Three counts of solicitation of a minor – Rape of a child
• One count of sexual battery by an authority figure

Cruze has now been indicted by a grand jury in Smyrna, and the RCS school system has been informed of this. The RCS claims to be completely cooperating with law authorities and will continue to give any information required for the inquiry.

Cruze resigned from her position on May 22 and no longer works with RCS.

Her $100,000 bond has been set, and her plea hearing is scheduled for September 28 at 9 a.m.

Court Information

Case #: 75CC1-2022-CR-87857