Lee County teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with student faces multiple charges

SANFORD, N.C. (WTVD) -- A former Lee County teacher is facing multiple charges after he was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a high school student.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged 56-year-old Frank Mauricio De Leon of Sanford with indecent liberties with a minor, three counts of felony secret peeping, and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Deputies said in April the sheriff's office received reports of "non-sexual but inappropriate behavior" between De Leon and a student at Lee County High School after the school conducted an investigation. After a subsequent investigation by the sheriff's office, a search warrant was issued for De Leon's home where officials said evidence was seized.

Sheriff Brian Estes said a further investigation, with assistance from the NC State Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit, also found evidence of "numerous unrelated criminal offenses."

"I have been directly and indirectly involved in many investigations throughout my career. These types of crimes are the absolute toughest on our investigators, the victims, and their families," Estes said. "My office will exhaust every ounce of effort, targeting these predators to keep them out of our community."

De Leon is being held at the Lee County Jail under a $250,000 secured bond.

On Friday, Lee County Schools released a statement on the arrest.

"Lee County Schools is aware of the arrest of former employee Frank De Leon as reported earlier today, and believes that additional information should be shared with respect to the school system's role in this case. Mr. De Leon's employment with the school system ended on April 19 following a school system investigation of concerns about non-sexual but inappropriate behavior toward a student. The school's findings were reported to law enforcement, and contributed to the additional investigation by law enforcement that led to Mr. De Leon's arrest on separate charges that we understand do not involve any current or former LCS student. The school system is grateful for its partnership with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, whose responsiveness and thorough investigation uncovered these much more serious concerns from outside of school."