CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A former Charlotte-Mecklenburg middle school teacher is going to jail after pleading guilty to sex crimes with children.
Donald Winger, 63, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery against two brothers on Monday.
The children's adoptive parents said Winger was a distant relative that they brought into their home.
Officials said Winger had a significant amount of access to children, and used to drive around in a white van selling ice cream.
Prosecutors started the day preparing to pick a jury for Winger's trial. But, Assistant District Attorney Kelly Miller said Winger chose to plead guilty after an alleged victim, unrelated to this case and now in his 30s, showed up at the trial.
That alleged victim told the court Winger abused him decades ago when they lived in the Erie, Pa., area.
"I think that made the difference between the defendant heading toward a jury trial, or continuing in that jury trial, and pleading guilty like he did today," Miller said.
Winger will spend 120 days in jail. He will then have to register as a sex offender.
WSOC
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