Brent Cooper
Introduction
Brent Cooper was the principal of Dade County High School in Trenton, Georgia, until late October 2026, when he was arrested, placed on administrative leave, and then resigned from the district. The arrest on October 29, 2026 began with two counts of improper sexual contact; an affidavit filed a week later escalated the case dramatically, charging Cooper with rape, child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery involving two minor victims — one a former student in the Dade County school system and the other a student currently enrolled in it.
The Dade County Board of Education accepted his resignation on October 30, 2026, and the district referred the matter to the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Background Information
Cooper led Dade County High School, the single public high school serving Dade County in the far northwest corner of Georgia, as principal. The school district operates under Superintendent Josh Ingle, who became the public face of the district’s response across the two weeks of escalating disclosures.
The investigation that ended Cooper’s tenure began internally: the Dade County Sheriff’s Office said its inquiry started after a school resource officer passed along information about possible misconduct. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation assisted the case, but Dade County deputies led it.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Charged; resigned; presumption of innocence. Cooper faces rape, child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery charges along with the initial improper-sexual-contact counts. The allegations come from sworn affidavits and charging documents, not adjudicated findings, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
On October 29, 2026, the Dade County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cooper on two counts of improper sexual contact. Superintendent Josh Ingle notified families that Cooper had been placed on administrative leave, and deputies executed a search warrant that covered the entirety of the school campus. The sheriff’s office asked anyone who believed they may have been a victim to come forward, and said the investigation was ongoing.
The next day, October 30, the Dade County Board of Education accepted Cooper’s resignation. Ingle announced the resignation in a letter to families and staff, writing: “Any conduct that exploits, harms, or violates the trust placed in an educator is unacceptable and directly opposes the values of our school district.” He said the incident had been referred to the Department of Family and Children’s Services and to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which certifies and disciplines educators in the state.
On November 4, 2026, court filings sharpened the picture substantially. An affidavit charged Cooper with rape, child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery involving two minors. The affidavit states Cooper did “willingly and knowingly” force himself on a female victim between 16 and 19 years old between 2017 and 2020, and that he committed acts of sexual battery and molestation against an 8-year-old victim between 2019 and 2020. Both offenses allegedly took place at a home in Trenton, Georgia, which public property records show Cooper owned from 2016 to 2022. The sheriff’s office confirmed one victim is a former student in the Dade County school system and the other is currently enrolled in it.
Public Reaction and Consequences
Ingle moved to stabilize the school immediately, naming Assistant Principal Vic Grider as the point of contact for the high school, with Assistant Principal Chastity Steadman also supporting students and community members. His letter to families said: “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.”
The earlier phase of the case had already unsettled the community: a complaint at the high school prompted an increased law-enforcement presence on campus before the arrest, and the sheriff’s office emphasized there was no current threat of violence to students and staff during that period. The district repeatedly urged anyone with relevant information to contact the Dade County Sheriff’s Office.
Ingle said he would continue to put student safety first as the case proceeds through the courts.
Current Status
Cooper is charged with rape, child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery in addition to the original improper-sexual-contact counts, with the underlying investigation led by the Dade County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by the GBI still described as ongoing. He is out of the school system following his accepted resignation, and the referral to state child-welfare and educator-standards agencies is in motion. Court proceedings on the charges remain ahead of him.
Impact on Their Career/Life
Cooper’s career in Georgia public education is over in practical terms: the board accepted his resignation within a day of his arrest, and the Professional Standards Commission referral puts his educator certification at issue regardless of the criminal outcome. The felony charges themselves — rape and child molestation carry decades of exposure under Georgia sentencing law — will dominate the next phase of his life, with the alleged conduct spanning his years as a school administrator in the district.
Sources
- Local 3 News (WRCB), “UPDATE: Former Dade Co. High School principal charged with child sex crimes,” November 5, 2026. source