Union County Teacher Faces Multiple Charges For Sex With Student

A Union County teacher is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Authorities say school administration contacted them on Thursday and reported several incidents of sexual contact both on the campus of Forest Hills High School near Marshville and away from the school.

Detectives investigated the allegations and arrested 30-year-old Francisco Javier Berrio late Thursday at his home in Monroe.

Berrio is charged with 14 counts of sexual activity between school personnel and a student, 12 counts of statutory sexual offence with a 13-, 14- or 15-year-old, 12 counts of indecent liberties with a minor, four counts of statutory rape of a 13-, 14- or 15-year-old and one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Berrio is being held in the Union County jail under $250,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in June.

Authorities said Berrio is a resident of Colombia, South America, and has been in the area about two years on a teaching visa. This was his second year teaching Spanish and French at Forest Hills. He has been fired by the school system.