FROM STAFF REPORTS
An Iredell-Statesville Schools teacher faces three felony sex charges, including statutory rape, following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Elizabeth Suzanne Bailey, 36, of Bluff Court, Statesville, in a news release Monday afternoon.
Bailey has been suspended with pay by I-SS, according to a district news release. She works at Northview Academy (formerly Pressly School) as a science teacher. She was first employed by I-SS in February 2010 as an assistant. She has also served as an exceptional children’s teacher.
The ICSO received a report on July 20 regarding a teacher possibly having had a sexual relationship with a student, Campbell said. The investigation was assigned to ICSO Special Victims Unit Detective Elliott Lane.
Detective Lane and other SVU detectives conducted several witness interviews and obtained search warrants for digital and social media communications between the victim and Bailey, Campbell said.
According to the news release, the offenses occurred on June 11 at a location in eastern Iredell County.
The victim, whose age was not released by the ICSO, was interviewed as part of the investigation, according to the news release.
Based on the evidence gathered in this investigation, detectives obtained felony warrants for Bailey’s arrest.
Numerous attempts to locate Bailey were made but she was not located, Campbell said.
On Monday, Bailey turned herself in at the Iredell County Detention Center after an arrangement was made between the District Attorney’s Office and the suspect’s attorney on the bond amount and special restrictions.
Bailey was charged with Felony Statutory Rape of a Person who is 15 Years of Age or Younger, Felony Indecent Liberties with a Minor, and Felony Sexual Activity with a Student.
She was given a $75,000 secured bond and placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring by District Court Judge Carol Hicks.
How do these people keep getting in schools?
Well… you get what you pay for! North Carolina keeps crapping on teachers!
Doggone right!
Not really. Teacher pay has been going up for the last few years after we got rid of the considerable debt former Governor Beverly Purdue racked up. The state legislature has many things to balance. Teacher pay is just one of them. All state employees went two years or so without raises back then, so we had to play catch up when we fiscally could and it was smart to do so without screwing up NC’s credit rating.
Are you suggesting if the teachers were paid more they would not abuse children. That’s crazy, lady
Why is she still being paid? Why such a low bond amount? Who did the background check on her?
These people are lower than scum.
Child predators go where children are. It does appear to be happening here with increased frequency. Parents need to get more involved with school not less.
Maybe she’ll have the luck as another case from 2019 still being continued…
This can’t help the teacher shortage. If our best and brightest are arrested for child rape I’d shutter to see what a mediocre rating gets our kids here in Iredell.
The law would not be involved if it was my child. I would take care of that myself. Wake up, people!