Publisher’s Note: Following a court-ordered expungement, the name and image of the article’s subject have been removed. Date: 7-17-2024
HAMLET — A man accused of sexually abusing a child is an employee of Richmond County Schools and is currently suspended.
According to a press release from the school district, 31-year-old (redacted) “was suspended with pay immediately as a precaution” when district leaders were made aware of the investigation Jan. 27.
Redacted has not been on campus since the suspension, according to the press release.
Since his March 24 arrest on four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and three counts of sexual battery, school officials say (redacted) has been suspended without pay “pending a termination proceeding under state law.”
Officials say the alleged incidents did not involve any student of Richmond County Schools.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged incidents occurred between 2015 and 2017.
“RCS will continue cooperating with law enforcement as needed, and will provide all necessary information to the Department of Public Instruction,” the release reads. “Student safety is always our top priority, and RCS will continue to maintain a safe and secure educational environment for all of our students.”
UPDATE: Redacted has been employed with Richmond County Schools since Aug. 10, 2020. During that time, he was a teacher at both Rockingham Middle and Hamlet Middle, according to RCS.
Redacted was given a $50,000 secured bond and appeared to have made bail by Friday night.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Updated 5:19 p.m. 3-28-23
Updated: 7:38 p.m. 3-28-23
