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	Teacher Accused of Sex Offense He's Suspended, Denies Misconduct Allegation Made by 12th-Grader By Kytja Weir kweir@charlotteobserver.com Charlotte Observer April 26, 2006 http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/14429333.htm A Charlotte Catholic High School teacher was suspended this week after a 12th-grader there accused him of sexual misconduct. The student told school principal Gerald Healy on Monday about an incident that he said occurred at the teacher's home two years ago, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. Healy confronted the teacher that day, the diocese stated in a news release Tuesday. The teacher denied the allegation. He was suspended with pay while the case is investigated, said acting diocese spokesman Kevin Murray. The diocese said it turned the case over to the Department of Social Services and its own internal review board, which investigates sexual misconduct within the diocese's 46 counties. It also sent a letter explaining the allegations Tuesday to parents and staff at the south Charlotte private school, which has about 1,245 students. The letter, obtained by WCNC, the Observer's news partner, says the diocese will continue to provide "a safe environment for all people, especially the young and vulnerable." It was not clear whether law enforcement officials are investigating the case. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokeswoman Officer Mandy Giannini said she was not aware of any criminal investigation led by her department. Murray, with the diocese, said he did not know if school authorities had alerted law enforcement. N.C. law considers intimate physical contact between a teacher and student as a felony, even if the student has reached the age of consent. The teacher, whose name was not released, was hired in 2001 after passing a background check, according to the diocese. Like all other diocese employees and volunteers, he had undergone training about sexual misconduct. The diocese said it was not aware of any other sexual misconduct reports involving the man. The case marks at least the seventh report of sexual offenses involving Charlotte-area teachers in 2006. At least five have been arrested. This month, the criminal case against former Bradley Middle School teacher Jimmie Grubbs in Huntersville even prompted a policy change. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools interim Superintendent Frances Haithcock ordered employees to report teachers or anyone else accused of abusing a student to child welfare officials. Mecklenburg County commissioners also decided last week to ask the legislature to require school authorities to report such allegations to DSS. -- WCNC contributed to this report. -- Kytja Weir: (704) 358-5934
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