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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
