Sports Referee Charged with Sexual Battery

In December 2025, a Wayne County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer (SRO) received a complaint of inappropriate behavior of an official (a referee) at an extracurricular event at Collinwood Middle School. The SRO immediately reported the allegations to Wayne County Sheriff's Office command staff and Wayne County Schools authorities. An investigation started immediately and appropriate organizations were notified. A Wayne County Grand Jury subsequently indicted Chauncey Lee Staggs on three counts of Sexual Battery.

Staggs, whose home address is listed as Rogersville, Alabama, was arrested and booked into the Wayne County Jail on February 9, 2026, with a $200,000 bond pending appearance in Wayne County Circuit Court on March 9, 2026, at 9:00 am.

“I consider these allegations among the most serious as they pertain to the most vulnerable victims, our children,” said Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher. “If anyone feels they have been a victim or know of a victim, please contact the Wayne County Sheriff's Office immediately. We can protect our children and work with partners to provide services if necessary.”

Sheriff Fisher confirmed that the alleged crimes did occur on school property, and the victim(s) was a juvenile.