A former high school athletic director found himself behind bars after an eight month investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The GBI said that former Washington-Wilkes High School Athletic Director Tony Christopher (TC) Jay turned himself into the Wilkes County Jail on February 19.
The state law enforcement agency reports that the GBI was requested by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office on June 8, 2020 after a complaint was filed concerning Jay and a former Washington-Wilkes student. The complaint alleged that the two were having a sexual relationship while the student was enrolled at Washington-Wilkes High School.
33-year-old Jay, of Ellijay, was charged with Sexual Assault by Persons with Supervisory or Disciplinary Authority. The statute in Georgia, OCGA 16-6-5.1, precludes ‘consent’ or the age of consent from the equation because of the position held by Jay. The statute also has first degree and second degree offenses, though the GBI did not clarify which one Jay was charged with last week.
An offense in the first degree carries a sentence of 1 to 25 years in prison with a maximum $100,000 fine, however, the possible prison time elevates to 25 to 50 years if the student was under the age of 16. An offense in the second degree is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
The relationship between Jay and the student occurred between August 2018 and May 2019, the GBI now says. Due to the nature of the case, identifying details regarding the student have not been released.
The investigation remains open, however, and once it is completed, it will be turned over to the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
