Erin McAuliffe, a math teacher at Rocky Mount Preparatory School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, was charged in June 2017 with four felonies tied to alleged sexual contact with three of her male students. She was 25 at the time of her arrest and had taught at the public charter school for less than a year.1WRAL. Rocky Mount Teacher Accused of Sex Acts With Students Charged With 4 Felonies
The Four Felony Counts
McAuliffe was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a student and one count of indecent liberties with a minor.2ABC7 Chicago. Teacher Accused of Having Sex With 3 Students Faces Judge The alleged victims were three male students, one aged 16 and two aged 17.
The sexual activity counts fall under North Carolina General Statute 14-27.32, which makes it a Class G felony for a teacher, coach, school administrator, or other school personnel to engage in sexual activity with a student.3North Carolina General Assembly. G.S. 14-27.32 – Sexual Activity With a Student Consent is not a defense under this statute. A Class G felony carries a maximum sentence of 47 months in prison.4NC Newsline. Gov. Roy Cooper Signs Bill to Increase Penalties for Sex Offenses Against Students
How The Case Came To Light
McAuliffe started teaching at Rocky Mount Preparatory in August 2016. In May 2017, school administrators contacted police after learning of possible inappropriate relationships between McAuliffe and students.1WRAL. Rocky Mount Teacher Accused of Sex Acts With Students Charged With 4 Felonies Detectives interviewed numerous students and faculty members during the investigation. Police said the alleged sexual contact took place off school grounds.5WWAY. Rocky Mount Teacher Accused of Sexual Contact With 3 Teens
Todd Pipkin, the head of the charter school, confirmed McAuliffe’s last day of employment was May 4, 2017, and she was fired shortly afterward.6WITN. Teacher Charged With Having Sex With Students
Arrest, Bond, And Court Appearances
Following her arrest in early June 2017, McAuliffe was held in the Carteret County jail under a $20,000 secured bond.7WBTV. NC Teacher Accused of Having Sexual Contact With 3 Students She was released after posting bond.8New York Post. Prep School Teacher Faces Judge Over Charges of Sex With Students Her first court appearance took place on June 13, 2017, in a Nash County courtroom, with a subsequent hearing set for June 29, 2017.9ABC11. Teacher Accused of Having Sex With Students Faces Judge