Chapel Hill Teacher Charged With Soliciting Sex From Youth Online

ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — Orange County deputies arrested a teacher Wednesday in connection with alleged child sex crimes committed via computer.

Authorities said 46-year-old David Jones of Chapel Hill was charged with solicitation of a child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act.

Officials with Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools said Jones, a science teacher and coach at Phillips Middle School and a Boy Scout troop leader, has been suspended by the district pending the completion of the investigation.

According to officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Internet and Cyber Crimes Unit, Jones communicated with a child under the age of 16 via the Internet and solicited sexual favors during the unit's four-day investigation.

Deputies were awaiting Jones' arrival at the home of his alleged intended victim and took him into custody there without incident, said authorities.

Wake County authorities are investigating Jones for similar crimes committed in Wake County, said Orange County authorities.

A statement from the school system late Wednesday said Phillips Middle principal Eileen Tully phoned the school's faculty with information about the alleged incident. Parents of students at both Phillips Middle and East Chapel Hill High School were given contact information for crisis response and law enforcement support.

According to officials, a member of the district's crisis team was at the school on Wednesday afternoon, and another will be on hand on Thursday.

Jones is being held in the Orange County Jail on $1 million bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday morning.