Tad Cummins, a former Maury County teacher, who is accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old girl, has pleaded not guilty. Court documents show the plea was entered May 26th.
Earlier this month, a federal grand jury sitting in Nashville, Tenn. returned a two-count indictment charging Cummins, 50, with transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual conduct and obstruction of justice.
Cummins was initially charged in a criminal complaint on April 20, 2017, after being located in Cecilville, Calif. with the female victim, who is also from Maury County. As alleged in the complaint, Cummins and the 15-year old had been the subject of a nationwide search by law enforcement, after leaving the Columbia, Tenn. area on March 13, 2017.
Cummins was served with an arrest warrant by FBI agents on Friday, April 21, 2017, while in the custody of the Siskiyou County, Calif. Sheriff. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate in Sacramento, Calif. on April 24, 2017, and waived a detention hearing and was ordered transferred to the Middle District of Tennessee for further proceedings.
Cummins was returned to the Middle District of Tennessee on May 9, 2017, and appeared for a preliminary and detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes on May 12, 2017. Cummins was ordered to be held in custody to await action by the grand jury.
Related:
- Tad Cummins Indicted By Federal Grand Jury
- A Tip Leads to the Arrest of Tad Cummins
- The Search for Tad Cummins
