Former JCSU employee accused of sex crimes to face judge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Johnson C. Smith University employee Michael Peterson is accused of sex crimes against a teenager 20 years ago during a summer program at the university, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police sources said Monday.

Officers had taken out eight warrants against Peterson, who was later arrested.

Queen Amani Miller said after 20 years of torment, she's speaking out about what she said happened to her at JCSU.

(Miller)

Miller was 14 years old when Peterson allegedly assaulted her repeatedly that summer.

She participated in a federal education program called Upward Bound.

Miller filed the report with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in December.

“I hold Johnson C. Smith (University) and the Upward Bound program 100 percent responsible for what happened to me,” Miller said.

JCSU confirmed that Peterson worked there from 1998 to 1999.

"The University has cooperated with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in its investigation,” a JCSU spokesperson said in a statement. “We have no further information to provide as this is an ongoing CMPD investigation."

The warrants issued were for three counts of statutory rape, one count of statutory sex offense and four counts of indecent liberties with a minor.

Peterson also taught at Lake Norman Charter School.

The following is a statement from the school:

“Mr. Michael Peterson was employed as a teacher’s assistant at Lake Norman Charter from August 2016 to this past Saturday morning, March 17, when he resigned his position, effective immediately. Later that day, we learned from our school resource officer (SRO) that he was under investigation for an alleged crime dating back to 1998."

Peterson will be in court Wednesday.

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