In reversal, Tad Cummins, former teacher charged in kidnapping case, plans to plead guilty

Tad Cummins, a former teacher charged with taking a 15-year-old student across state lines for sex, plans to reverse course and plead guilty to federal charges after "personal reflection."

Cummins' attorney announced his intentions to change his plea in a Thursday court filing.

Cummins disappeared in March 2017 with a former student, who was 15, and quickly became the subject of a nationwide manhunt and Amber Alert. After more than five weeks on the lam, he and the girl were found in a remote forest cabin near Cecilville, California.

Cummins, a former Maury County teacher, was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual conduct.

He had originally entered a plea of not guilty in May 2017.

"After case review, consultation, and personal reflection, he would like to enter a plea of guilty to both counts as charged in the Indictment," federal public defender Dumaka Shabazz wrote in the Thursday filing.

Cummins' family had previously cobbled together the money to hire a private attorney who stepped down from the case in January after trying to talk to the teenage girl at the center of the case. After the attorney, Brent Horst, asked to leave the case, Cummins was assigned a public defender.

Following the announcement, S. Jason Whatley, the Columbia-based attorney representing the girl, released a statement saying the family is "very relieved that Tad Cummins decided to do the right thing by pleading guilty. We see this as one more step toward justice."

► More: Tad Cummins' lawyer left the case after trying to talk to alleged victim

► More: Tennessee revokes Tad Cummins' teaching license

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.