LaFayette High School’s vice principal and athletic coach, Ronnie Brent Massey, was arrested Monday on serious charges related to child sexual abuse material. Local families are now grappling with the shocking news about a trusted school official.
What Happened:
The Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 49-year-old Ringgold resident after executing a search warrant at his home. According to law enforcement:
- Massey faces 10 counts of computer child pornography
- The investigation stemmed from the Internet Crimes Against Children Data System
Between the Lines: Police say Massey admitted to receiving approximately 12 videos containing child sexual abuse material through an app. Investigators collected multiple electronic devices as evidence, including phones, computers, and storage devices.
Why It Matters: This arrest directly impacts the school community where Massey held positions of authority over minors. Parents and students must now process this breach of trust while school officials determine next steps.
What’s Next: After his arrest, deputies transported Massey to the Sheriff’s Office where he participated in a voluntary interview before being booked into detention. The school district has not yet announced how they will address his employment status.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
