THOMASVILLE — A former Berrien Middle School teacher was charged Tuesday morning with obscene Internet contact with a child.

Grady Jewell Jr., 40, stands accused of exchanging inappropriate messages on a social network with a Thomas County School System student, who reported the messages to a school counselor, according to authorities. 

Jewell taught in Berrien County until last week, when he was allowed to resign, said Lt. Tim Watkins, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator. He was also a former Thomas County Middle School instructor.

When interviewed by sheriff’s office investigators Tuesday, Jewell admitted to the inappropriate messages, Watkins said.

A Facebook page for Grady Jewell Jr. says he attended Brewton-Parker College. This was his first year teaching at Berrien Middle, said Danny Hayes, Berrien County school superintendent.

 “We’d had no complaints from anyone about Jewell,” he said. Jewell resigned March 3 and the school board accepted his resignation, Hayes said.

It wasn’t known if someone would be hired quickly to take over Jewell’s classes or if other teachers would cover for him, he said.

“We’d love to get someone who was fully certified, but at this time of year we probably won’t,” Hayes said. 

Terry Richards is an editor at The Valdosta Daily Times.