Local

Stanly County teacher accused of sexually assaulting teen

A Stanly County teacher is in jail after investigators said he sexually assaulted a student at the Tar Heel Challenge Academy in New London.

“We take these very serious when it comes to kids,” Sheriff Jeff Crisco said.

Detectives arrested Cody Eudy for engaging in a sex act with a juvenile student.

[Trio charged in connection with shooting, chase in Stanly County]

Authorities said detectives were called to the Tar Heel Academy on May 29 and discovered a female cadet had been assaulted in her dorm room.

The academy is for teens between 16 and 18 years old, and it’s sponsored by the North Carolina National Guard.

The school says its mission is to provide intervention for high school dropouts.

Crisco said investigators also learned there were only male staff members working that night, which is a bad practice.

There was not a female staff member working that night, just a male staff member,” Cisco said.

Sheriff investigators said they have been called to the academy before.

“This is actually our second,” he said. “The first being a death.”

A 17-year-old cadet died in February.

The family of Selvin Betancourt spoke with Channel 9 at the time and told us they hadn’t gotten any explanation regarding his death all they’d been told was that he had a cold. But the sheriff’s office ruled out foul play in the case and no charges were ever filed.

The school had no comment Monday, because it is an ongoing investigation.

The sheriff said the school is cooperating with investigators.

Cody Eudy is in jail on a $100,000 bond.