Former Dade County High Principal Brent Cooper Charged With Rape and Child Molestation

Former Dade County High Principal Brent Cooper Charged With Rape and Child Molestation

by

“Any conduct that exploits, harms, or violates the trust placed in an educator is unacceptable and directly opposes the values of our school district,” Dade County School District Superintendent Josh Ingle wrote in a letter to families and staff, as first reported by Local 3 News. The words landed in a small Georgia community on October 30, 2026, one day after the arrest of the man who had led its only public high school.

Joseph “Brent” Cooper, the former principal of Dade County High School in Trenton, Georgia, now faces charges of rape, child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery involving two minors, according to arrest warrant affidavits. One warrant accuses Cooper of raping a female victim between the ages of 16 and 19 between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020. A second warrant accuses him of child molestation and aggravated sexual battery against an 8-year-old child between August 13, 2019, and August 13, 2020. Local 3 News reported that the affidavit states Cooper acted “willingly and knowingly” in the alleged assault on the older victim.

Alleged Crimes Took Place at Cooper’s Trenton Home

Both offenses are alleged to have occurred at a home on Meadowbrook Lane in Trenton. Property tax records show Cooper owned the home from 2016 until 2021, while Georgia Public Property records show ownership from 2016 to 2022.

Dade County High School principal arrested following investigation

The charges follow Cooper’s initial arrest on Thursday, October 29, 2026, on two counts of improper sexual contact. The Dade County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began after a school resource officer received information about “possible misconduct,” and deputies executed a search warrant covering the entire high school campus. A Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesperson told Local 3 News that the GBI assisted with the case, but Dade County deputies are leading the ongoing investigation.

Board Accepts Resignation After Arrest

The Dade County Board of Education accepted Cooper’s resignation on October 30, 2026, the day after his arrest. Ingle announced the resignation in a letter addressed to families and staff, and said the incident has been referred to the Department of Family and Children’s Services and to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

“Dade County Schools has a proud tradition rooted in character, and we have a responsibility to uphold the trust our families place in us. That means providing safe, supportive schools, strong leadership, and an environment where students can focus on learning. Our commitment to that responsibility is unwavering,” said Superintendent Ingle.

With Cooper gone, Assistant Principal Vic Grider will serve as the “point of contact” for the high school, and Assistant Principal Chastity Steadman will also support students and community members, according to Ingle’s letter. Ingle also encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the Dade County Sheriff’s Office, and deputies have asked anyone who believes they may have been a victim to come forward.

How the Investigation Unfolded

Within days, a school resource officer’s tip led to the arrest, the campus-wide search, and the administrative leave that preceded Cooper’s resignation.

Former Dade County High Principal Brent Cooper Charged With Rape and Child Molestation
Photo: newschannel9.com

The allegations span years. The alleged rape of the older victim is dated from 2017 to 2020, and the alleged molestation of the 8-year-old from 2019 to 2020 — a period during which Cooper was employed as the school’s principal. As of the latest reports, the investigation remains ongoing, and it was not yet publicly known what specific conduct the initial two counts of improper sexual contact covered.

What This Means for Dade County Families

Ingle’s letter acknowledged that directly, and the district has pointed families toward the sheriff’s office as the channel for anyone with information. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission referral means Cooper’s educator certification is now also under review, a separate track from the criminal case that could bar him from Georgia classrooms regardless of how the prosecution proceeds.

The school now faces the practical work of steadying itself: two assistant principals absorbing leadership duties, a superintendent publicly committing to student safety, and a community waiting on a sheriff’s office investigation that deputies say is not finished.

Ingle put the district’s position in one line: “I recognize the trust you place in our schools each day. We take that responsibility seriously and remain committed to the safety, well-being, and education of every student we serve.”

Dade County High School Principal arrested for improper sexual contact

More on Cooper

Tip to SRO led to arrest of Dade County High principal for improper sexual contact
High school principal arrested, accused of improper sexual contact

Keep reading

Read next