Former Tennessee teacher to enter guilty plea in kidnapping case

Nashville, Tenn.- A former Tennessee teacher accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old student and running away with her to rural Siskiyou County has filed a motion in federal court Thursday to change his plea to guilty.

Tad Cummins is accused of taking the student across state lines in an effort to have a sexual relationship with her. Their disappearance last year sparked an Amber Alert and nationwide BOLO. The pair was on the run for several weeks before they were spotted in rural Siskiyou County.

Both Cummins and the student were returned to Tennessee, where Cummins was charged with federal crimes that carried a sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison. He originally pleaded not guilty to the federal charges in May, 2017, however on Thursday he filed paperwork indicating he would change that plea.

It was not immediately apparent how the plea would impact his sentence.

Cummins is also facing charges in Siskiyou County for kidnapping and possession of stolen property, as well as possible state charges in Tennessee for aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor.