Ja’Mychal Buckner
One year ago, Ja’Mychal Buckner was preparing to play his senior year of high school football for the South Pittsburg High Pirates. Now, Buckner is facing a serious arrest at the Marion County Jail. The 18 year-old was charged with rape on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Buckner, who played running back for South Pittsburg High School and graduated in May, had previously announced a commitment to play football at University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Newschannel 9 reported that a spokesperson for the college said it does not have a student enrolled by that name
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department said it cannot release additional information because the investigation is ongoing and involves a juvenile.
According to the sheriff’s department, Buckner’s bond hearing, which had been scheduled for Friday, was postponed until Wednesday.
This is the second rape case in a week in Marion County. Last Tuesday, Whitwell resident James R Lewis, Jr, age 40, was arrest by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and charged with Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure.
DISCLAIMER: The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on Sequatchie Valley Now Facebook page or SValleyNow.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
