A former DeSoto County Schools employee charged with a felony is accused of taking part in an online group chat about the sexual abuse of children using a phone issued to him by the school district. Brannon Rushing, 49, faces a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony following an investigation by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, according to court records described in multiple Memphis-area news reports.
DeSoto County Schools says Rushing no longer works for the district. He was terminated on Sept. 10, the same day investigators were alerted to the case.
How the investigation began
According to an affidavit cited by WMC Action News 5, an FBI task force notified the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division on Sept. 10 that a district employee was suspected of possessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators then searched Rushing’s district-issued phone.
The affidavit states that detectives found a group chat on the Kik messaging app that contained sexually explicit messages about minors, along with photographs of a young girl. Investigators allege the messages show Rushing discussing a sexual interest in a child with other members of the group, and records indicate the charge stems from an alleged conspiracy to commit sexual battery against a minor.
Some reports indicate the alleged activity dates back to around March 2026 and took place on the work phone during school hours. Rushing was arrested and later released on his own recognizance, according to local reports.
What DeSoto County Schools said about the employee charged
Rushing worked as a residency investigator in the district’s central office, part of the School Resource Officer and Security Division. Residency investigators verify that students live within the district’s attendance zones.
The district said Rushing was not assigned to any school and did not supervise students, and that the allegations were unrelated to his work in the residency department. Reports also note that Rushing had previously trained with Mississippi’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Key facts in the case
Accused: Brannon Rushing, 49, former DeSoto County Schools residency investigator
Charge: Conspiracy to commit a felony
Investigating agencies: DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, with a tip from an FBI task force
Employment: Terminated by the district on Sept. 10
Next court date: Oct. 16, according to reports
What happens next
The case will move through the DeSoto County court system, and additional charges are possible as the investigation continues. The Sheriff’s Office has not released further details publicly.
Parents or anyone with information about child exploitation can contact the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office or submit a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
