Foster mother accused of statutory rape

A Shelbyville foster mother has been indicted by the Bedford County grand jury for allegedly having sex with a foster child she had access to.

Alea Rhea Rippy, 25, has been charged with eight counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, according to true bills issued by the grand jury on April 21.

Rippy appeared in Bedford County Circuit Court before Judge Lee Russell Thursday and is scheduled to appear again on June 5, at which time she can either enter a plea or have a date set for trial.

The indictments alleged that Rippy "did engage in unlawful sexual penetration with" a boy that was 13 years of age or older, but less than 18.

Rippy was at least four years older than the boy, which resulted in the charges of statutory rape.

Informed sources told the T-G that the child in question was not directly in Rippy's care nor did he live with her, but Rippy did have access to the boy, who was the foster child of another foster parent that was a friend of Rippy's.

The foster mother of the victim was not aware of what allegedly transpired between Rippy and the boy, the informed source explained.

The indictments stated that Rippy "was at the time of the offense, in a position of trust or had supervisory or disciplinary power," over the boy, "by virtue of (Rippy's) legal professional or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual penetration..."

According to the true bills, the eight alleged incidents took place between January and March of this year.

Detective Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department arrested Rippy on March 16. Rippy is represented by attorney Joe Ford.