Photo Courtesy of Orange County Sheriff’s Office
A former counselor at Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, turned herself in to authorities on Thursday and was charged with sex crimes involving students, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Lesli Bryant, 37, of Hillsborough, faces two counts of indecent liberties with a student and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, the sheriff's office said. She has not entered a plea, and the charges are allegations that have not been proven in court.
The investigation began when administrators at the school reported allegations of misconduct involving multiple students to a school resource officer, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies opened a case and obtained warrants for Bryant's arrest.
Prosecutors said Bryant communicated with two teenage students on Snapchat and allegedly sent them sexually explicit images and videos of herself. The alleged conduct occurred as recently as April, officials said.
What the School District Says
Orange County Schools confirmed that Bryant had been a counselor at Orange High School. In a statement, the district said it placed her on administrative suspension with pay after learning of the allegations, and that she resigned from her position on June 12.
"Orange County Schools takes matters involving the safety and well-being of students extremely seriously," the district said. "Orange County Schools remains committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students."
The district said the matter is now a criminal case and that any further information would come from the sheriff's office.
In Court
Bryant turned herself in at the magistrate's office and made a first appearance before a judge the same day, with her husband in the courtroom, the sheriff's office said. A judge set a secured bond of $50,000.
As conditions of release, Bryant was ordered to have no contact with two witnesses named in the case, and she is barred from any Orange County Schools property. She was also ordered not to have contact with any children other than her own unless supervised by another adult. The sheriff's office said Bryant has three children of her own who attend schools in the district.
Bryant is scheduled to appear in court again later in July. The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active, and asked anyone with additional information to contact its investigators.
Charges of indecent liberties with a student and sexual exploitation of a minor are felonies under North Carolina law. Because the case is pending, Bryant is presumed innocent unless and until she is convicted.
The case is one of a number in recent years in which North Carolina educators have faced criminal charges tied to communication with students over social media, a pattern that has pushed a growing number of districts to tighten rules on how staff may contact students online.
Sources
CBS 17 (WNCN): Ex-Orange High School counselor charged with multiple child sex crimes, Orange County Sheriff's Office says
Yahoo News: Ex-School Employee Turns Herself In on Sex Crime Charges Involving Students
