Teacher accused of raping, molesting 13-year-old girl

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Chattahoochee High teacher and coach is in jail after police said he had a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl he met online.

Preston Paris, 32, was charged with child molestation, statutory rape and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Roswell police said Paris was arrested at the school before the start of class Monday morning. Roswell police detectives said Cobb County police contacted them last week about their investigation involving the young victim.

Roswell police and Cobb County police worked together on the case after learning the alleged crime spanned two counties.

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Cobb County detectives said they first launched their investigation Sept. 18.

Police said Paris had a sexually inappropriate encounter with the child after the two met on the dating app Tinder.

Investigators said Paris picked the girl up at her Cobb County home before taking the teen to his Roswell apartment where various sexual acts occurred.

"They had the sexual encounter at the apartment. Warrants were taken," a spokesperson for the Roswell Police Department told Channel 2 Action News.

A Fulton County Schools spokesperson confirmed Paris taught social studies for two years and was also the school’s volleyball coach and assistant swim coach.

“I’m upset, and angry too,” parent Venkat Palani said. “This will upset any parent sending their kids to school.”

News of the arrest came as a surprise to several students.

"He seemed really chill, really nice,” said Palani's son, who is a senior at Chattahoochee High School.

The student said Paris is well-liked.

Chattahoochee High School sent the following statement:

"Given the allegations, he was immediately separated from our district.”

Paris is expected to be in court Tuesday morning for his first appearance.

Investigators are urging if anyone else has been a victim to call their local police department.

Cox Media Group