More child sex charges filed against former Johnston teacher

Two counts each of sex offense with a student and indecent liberties with a child have been added to the charges facing Paul Clifton Canally. He remains in the Johnston County jail, and his bond has been increased to $2.48 million.

Canally, 29, of 148 Buchanan Lane, was arrested two weeks ago on charges that he sexually abused a teenage boy numerous times between April 2010 and last December. Two days after his arrest, police filed charges of statutory rape and soliciting a child by computer against him in connection with a second alleged victim.

Last week, a third alleged victim came forward, prompting another four counts of indecent liberties with a minor.

Police said Friday that two more alleged victims have come forward. They were students at Archer Lodge Middle when Canally taught there, investigators said, but the alleged molestation occurred at Canally's home and not at school.

He was a seventh-grade science teacher at Archer Lodge Middle from August 2007 to July 2009, when he resigned for personal reasons, Johnston County Schools spokeswoman Terri Sessoms said.

Sessoms said Friday that district officials were investigating a verbal complaint against Canally in the summer of 2009 when he resigned. The complaint didn't involve any alleged sexual misconduct, she said, but "concerns were reported to all appropriate agencies."

"Johnston County Schools is aggressive in addressing potential issues of employee misconduct, erring on the side of student safety even when the personnel decisions are not popular," she said in a statement.

Sessoms said the school district took no disciplinary actions against Canally during his tenure.

Police said Canally also worked as a camp counselor in Pennsylvania, and they are trying to determine if there were any victims there.