North Carolina assistant principal accused of having sex with 17-year-old student she was tutoring repeatedly over four months
An assistant principal at a North Carolina high school reportedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a student at least six times over the summer, authorities have revealed.
34-year-old Lisa Rothwell, an educator at the Stuart Cramer High School in Belmont, was arrested on Friday for allegedly having sex and oral sex with a student between April 1 and July 31, the New York Post reports.
A 10-year employee of Gaston County Schools, Rothwell was ordered to be held on a $1 million bond as she faces six counts of felony sexual activity with a student by a school employee.
Gaston County Police Capt. Billy Downey said police became involved in the case late last week after students at the school were talking about the relationship between the assistant principal and the 17-year-old student she was tutoring.
“There was some chatter among students that was passed back and forth, which made its way to school administration, which then got reported to us,” Downey said Monday.
Prior to landing her current position in 2014, Rothwell taught gifted children at North Gaston High School and Stanley Middle School.
Following her arrest, she has been suspended with pay. That said, Rothwell earns more than $66,000 per annum.
Sources told the Gaston Gazette the alleged sex acts between the student and teacher took place three times in April and three times again in July.
“The assistant principal, in this case, was helping the young man with some issues related to school,” Downey said, adding that the help involved tutoring.
Downey clarified that none of the alleged sexual activity occurred on the school premises, adding that both the accuser as well as Rothwell have cooperated with investigators. Nonetheless, it is still unclear if the assistant principal admitted to wrongdoing.
“We don’t make charges unless we know we have evidence that we can proceed to court with,” Downey said. “We’re very certain of the evidence we have.”
Rothwell was emotional during her initial court appearance on Friday. She is due to appear in court on Monday in order to seek a reduction in her bond amount.