LCHS teacher accused of sexual abuse – THE RANT

A Lee County High School teacher has been charged with multiple charges related to an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a student.

Frank Mauricio De Leon, 56, of Hickory Avenue in Sanford, is charged with indecent liberties, second-degree petty sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of secret espionage.

Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes said his office received a report about the alleged relationship in April and began an investigation. Estes said investigators, working with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, executed a search warrant at De Leon’s home. Authorities also uncovered “evidence of numerous unrelated crimes,” Estes said.

A social media profile shows De Leon taught ESL and worked in Harnett County before his position in Lee County.

De Leon was lodged in the Lee County Jail under a $250,000 secured bond.