Former Dadeville high school coach arrested on transmitting obscene material to a child

Mardracus Russell/Source: Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office

A former Dadeville High School coach has been arrested.

Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett tells Action 8 News that his office initiated an investigation on January 7 regarding an alleged transmitting obscene material to a child involving three juveniles.

Two weeks later as a result of the investigation, 43-year-old Mardracus Russell was taken into custody.

Russell has been charged with two counts of Transmitting Obscene Material to a Child by Computer and one count of a School Employee Distributing or Soliciting Obscene Material to or from a Student.

Action 8 News reached out to Tallapoosa County Superintendent Casey Davis regarding Russell’s status.

Davis could not elaborate on the circumstances, but confirmed that Russell is no longer an employee of Dadeville High School or Tallapoosa County Schools.

The school system released this statement on social media Thursday:

“Superintendent Casey D. Davis and the members of the Tallapoosa County Board of Education are fully cooperating in the investigation involving a former Dadeville High School employee. Our first priority has always been and will continue to be our students. After Superintendent and Board action the Dadeville staff member who has been arrested by local authorities is no longer an employee or affiliated in any way with the Tallapoosa County Board of Education or Dadeville High School.”

Russell is currently in the Tallapoosa County Jail pending a bond hearing.