Rhea Co. woman facing two counts of child rape

DAYTON — A Rhea County woman is behind bars after the Rhea County Grand Jury indicted her on two counts of rape of a child and one count of aggravated sexual battery, according to investigators with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department.

Lynzie Jean Bartley, 28, was indicted on Monday, Feb. 5, according to Rhea County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Rocky Potter.

Potter said that the investigation into the allegations began in mid-November 2023. That’s when, Potter said, a young girl under 12-years-old disclosed to a family member that Bartley had allegedly sexually assaulted her.

“The young girl disclosed that (Bartley) had been touching her inappropriately,” Potter said.

While the investigation was under way, Potter said that the girl was interviewed at the Rhea County Child Advocacy Center, or Landon’s Place. Potter said that after interviewing the girl, family members and discussing the investigation with the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s office, evidence was presented to the Rhea County Grand Jury in February, which returned those indictments.

According to jail records, Bartley was charged with two counts of rape of a child and one count of aggravated sexual battery. She is also facing charges from a previous incident, which according to jail records, occurred in December 2023, and is facing other charges of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, introduction of a controlled substance into a penal institution and failure to appear in court.

Potter said that Bartley’s bond was set at $500,000, and according to jail records, she was still incarcerated as of press time Tuesday.