Local

Catawba Co. Sheriff charges Hickory candidate with indecent liberties

HICKORY, N.C. — On Saturday the Catawba County School District superintendent told Eyewitness News that the district had banned one of it's substitute teachers from being on or near any of the school campuses.

Joseph Brannock was charged with indecent liberties with a child and several traffic violations Friday.

The 37-year-old political hopeful was arrested at the Catawba County Schools administration building.

The sheriff's office wouldn't explain what led up to the charges Saturday, but the sheriff told our news partner at the Hickory Daily Record that the female accuser reported the alleged abuse to the sheriff's office.

He also told the paper that the victim is younger than 16-years old and lives in Catawba County.

Brannock had worked at multiple schools as a substitute teacher since the fall of 2011.

We asked the local elections director how the charges could impact Brannock's run for office.

He said just an arrest would not take his name off the ballot.