Cumberland Substitute Teacher Arrested On Sex Charges

Detectives say Daniel Moore Jr., 20, allegedly took indecent liberties with a 13-year-old student and had sex with her. Moore had been a substitute physical education teacher at Anne Chestnutt Middle School for about a year.

"A lot of times when these things occur, there's a trust between a student and a teacher, and at some point, the adult violates trust and that's apparently what occurred here," said Lt. Sam Pennica, of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say the girl's mother noticed behavioral changes and confronted her daughter.

Detectives believe some of the alleged sex acts occurred at the school. Pennica said the alleged incidents took place over several months and ended in a rape off-campus where the student was then dropped off in a wooded area not far from her home.

Authorities say the alleged acts were not consenual and there may be other victims involved.

"The indecent liberties started sometime before the actual rape. The rape occurred in October and this was not disclosed until about a week or so ago, so it has been a long period of time that this had been going on," Pennica said.

Parents were surprised to hear the news about the arrest.

"You have all kinds of things happening everywhere else and a school is supposed to be some place where kids are supposedly to be safe," parent Tara Waaser said.

School system officials said Moore met the requirements to become a substitute teacher, which included passing a background check.

"Obviously, if there's nothing on the criminal background check, we certainly couldn't catch something that's not there," said Dr. Kathy Dixon, of Cumberland County schools.

Authorities say Moore did not have a prior criminal record. Moore's parents told WRAL that they do not believe the charges against their son.

Moore is currently in the Cumberland County Jail under $150,000 bond.