Harrison High School teacher arrested on charges of sexual assault, soliciting sex from student

A Harrison High teacher Eric Taylor Butler, listed as a social studies teacher and as an assistant baseball coach on the Harrison High team’s website, was arrested on charges of sexual assault and soliciting sex from a student.  

According to his arrest warrant, Butler, 28, is accused of soliciting a sex act from a 16-year-old student.  

Authorities said from June 2023 until this week, Butler used a cell phone for calls and text messages to develop the relationship with the student as he took steps toward a sexual relationship with the student. 

Those steps culminated in Butler allegedly asking the student during an in-person conversation to give him oral sex, in addition to other sexually explicit conversations he is accused of having with the student. 

Per Butlers’ warrant, a coworker reportedly told him to stop communicating with the student, but Butler continued to do so. To avoid detection of his communications with the student, Butler bought a new phone and allegedly had the student refer to him as “daddy” or “d1,” and called the student “mommy” or “m1.” He continued to have meetings with the student, both at school and off campus at Starbucks.

Butler was arrested late Tuesday morning and booked into the Cobb Adult Detention Center. He is charged with sexual assault by a teacher, principal, assistant principal or other administrator and solicitation of sodomy. Butler is being held on a $55,000 bond.

District spokesperson Nan Kiel said, “We encourage students, staff, and parents to visit http://www.cobbshield.com to learn more about how the District keeps students safe and to report any safety concerns to the District’s Tipline via call, text, or email.”