On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, WBIR reported that the Blount County District Attorney General’s Office has been ordered to recuse itself from a high-profile child sex crimes case involving a former teacher from Blount County Schools. The decision came after a recent evidence discovery meeting revealed potentially compromising materials on the defendant’s phone.
The case centers around Shane Rewis, a former educator who faces serious charges, including two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, trafficking for a commercial sex act, three counts of exploitation of a minor by electronic means, and sexual exploitation of a minor. Rewis was arrested in Georgia last November and was indicted by a Blount County Grand Jury in the fall.
Judge Tammy Harrington presided over the hearing regarding the recusal request filed by Rewis’ attorney. According to court records, the motion was prompted by the discovery of photographs of one of the investigators’ juvenile family members on Rewis’ phone during an evidence discovery meeting held on January 28. The defense argued that this situation presented multiple conflicts of interest for the District Attorney’s Office.
In response to the ruling, District Attorney Ryan Desmond indicated that his office plans to consult with the state about the possibility of appealing the decision. Desmond stated that while they believed recusal was not necessary, they would respect the court’s ruling. He assured that the District Attorney’s Office would continue to either prosecute the case vigorously or provide necessary support to ensure that a substitute office could effectively handle the prosecution.
The defense highlighted that the materials on Rewis’ phone were exculpatory and should have been viewed by them, claiming that the images did not depict any minors engaged in inappropriate activity. This assertion was crucial to their argument for a fair trial.
Plea negotiations for Rewis had previously taken place, with an offer made on March 11 to plead guilty to five charges, which would result in a 15-year sentence. However, this offer was countered by the defense, which sought a ten-year sentence while dropping all Class A felonies. These negotiations were reportedly halted following the public uproar over a separate case involving another former Blount County teacher, Joseph Dalton, who received a six-month probation sentence after pleading guilty to five counts of offensive touching.
The community outrage over Dalton’s plea deal has been palpable, with public protests and criticism directed at both the Blount County District Attorney and the judge who granted judicial diversion in Dalton’s case. The defense for Rewis indicated that the public backlash has created an environment where the District Attorney’s Office may no longer be able to negotiate a fair resolution for Rewis’ case.
In support of their position, Rewis’ attorney referenced an online petition advocating for stricter penalties for educators involved in sexual misconduct, as well as statements from local officials expressing their dissatisfaction with the leniency shown in Dalton’s sentencing.
Rewis has been under investigation since May 2024, after two girls reported inappropriate communications and images sent to them electronically. During the investigation, authorities identified a third juvenile victim.
Source: WBIR
