Former Band Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Student

A former CMS band teacher turned himself in to police after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

Investigators say 44-year-old Richard Priode was the band director at South Mecklenburg High School when he was having sex with a 16-year-old student.

The investigation began in April 2009 when someone reported to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police that Priode had a consensual sexual relationship with a student in 2007.

Priode is charged with indecent liberties with a student, which is a felony. Police say the accusations only involve one student.

Priode worked for CMS from August 2006 to June of last year. He left CMS a year ago on his own and police say that had nothing to do with these charges.

Priode is still teaches in a different school district in the area. Eyewitness News has some calls into that school district to find out if Priode’s status has changed since the felony charges.