Teaching assistant faces sex offense charge

Raleigh, N.C. — A teaching assistant at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School resigned Wednesday after being charged with a sex crime involving a 14-year-old boy.

Phillip Jerrod Barham, 20, of 2504-101 Tryon Grove Drive, was arrested Tuesday on one count of statutory sex offense stemming from a Jan. 19 encounter at the boy's home.

Police responded to a 911 call that day about a fight at the home. When they arrived and started investigating, they were told the boy had been sexually assaulted.

Barham's family said after a court appearance Wednesday that he is innocent and that the boy's mother made up the story.

Greg Thomas, a spokesman for the Wake County Public School System, said Barham, who was hired in October, resigned Wednesday morning.

The school system, Thomas said, is conducting an internal investigation, which is standard when a school employee is accused of inappropriate behavior.

The boy's mother said Barham and her son were friends but that he does not attend Southeast Raleigh High.

Barham was in the Wake County jail Wednesday under an $800,000 bond.

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Has this man been proven guilty beyond any doubt yet? Or are there still some more investigating to be done? If he is guilty he deserves to go to jail. But if he is actually innocent of this crime, what a shame to have one's good name destroyed forever by the false accusation of another.

This has to be one of the scariest things for those adults who have to be in charge of minors.

A few years ago a father almost went to jail because he was accused by his 7 year old son of molesting him. As it turned out, the son later denied it and said he did it because he was mad at his dad for not letting him go trick or treating on Halloween.

larpsim
February 2, 2012 5:21 p.m.

Yet another mistake by the school system. Hire a 20 yr old teaching assistant. Guess he was good friends with the principal. I thought the school board had to approve people who were hired. They could have easily hired someone with at least some college -- if not someone with a college degree. Lots of people out of work.

superman
February 2, 2012 9:40 a.m.

I thought they did a back-ground check of anyone working on school campuses. -- they do, required by law, but there are lapses after hiring is done. This guy probably has a clean record. I didn't see that he did....

djofraleigh
February 1, 2012 6:26 p.m.

What possible credentials could a 20 year old have that would allow him to be a teaching assistant at a high school? - questioning comment

I don't know what the requirements are, but I figure being a high school graduate would be enough, but most schools would not hire a 20 year old due to lack of experience, I'd think. Track record matters. He worked at South East Raleigh HS, but the 14 year old didn't go there, being middle school age.

I just don't believe it was a sexual assault...just seems weird to me, but the investigation will tell.

djofraleigh
February 1, 2012 6:24 p.m.

Hopefully, in about 2 years, his job might be available - funny comment

well, in this case, he did resign his TA position, and if it is in a special education class, there are requirements to have a ratio so one would be hired, freeze or not. If he were a secretary...??

djofraleigh
February 1, 2012 6:20 p.m.