CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A former Hamblen County teacher who resigned during a criminal investigation has been indicted in Claiborne County.
According to court documents, 25-year-old Ryan Lawson was indicted on Oct. 28 on one count of exploitation of a minor by electronic means.
Lawson worked at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Hamblen County from July 29, 2024, until Feb. 13, 2026, according to a statement from Hamblen County Schools Superintendent Arnold Bunch.
Bunch said school officials were informed on Feb. 13 of an investigation involving Lawson by the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department. Following notification of the investigation, Lawson was suspended pending the outcome of the case. He later resigned from his teaching position.
The indictment alleges the offense occurred between December 2025 and February 2026.
According to Bunch, Lawson was hired through the district’s standard human resources process, which included a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation background check. School officials said the check did not reveal any issues at the time of his hiring.
Before working in Hamblen County, Lawson taught in Claiborne County Schools during the 2023-24 school year. District officials said his contract was not renewed for the following school year.
Authorities have not released additional details about the allegations, and the case remains pending in Claiborne County.
As with all criminal cases, the charge is an allegation, and Lawson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
