COVINGTON, Ga. - A local second-grade teacher spent about seven hours in the Newton County Jail Sunday morning on a simple battery charge following an August investigation of "inappropriate" contact with a student. 

According to the Newton County Sheriff's Office incident report, deputies launched an investigation Aug. 26 after a mother "stated that a teacher at the elementary school made contact with her son and was very inappropriate during a meeting. The principal had been notified by the parent, but she had not received communication back in regards to the incident."

Deborah Diane Lenox, a Porterdale Elementary School teacher, turned herself in to the Newton County Jail Sept. 22 around 4 a.m. and was released just before noon on a $1,300 bond. 

"We are aware of Ms. Lenox’s arrest and are cooperating fully with local law enforcement," Newton County School System Director of Public Relations Sherri Davis told The Covington News. "Ms. Lenox is a second-grade teacher at Porterdale Elementary School. She is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."

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The Covington News will continue to update this report as information becomes available.