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Published: 2012-05-29 17:25:00
Updated: 2012-05-30 06:35:54

Former Zebulon school headmaster surrenders on sexual battery charges


Smith at Magistrate's Office
Smith at Magistrate's Office
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The former headmaster of a Zebulon charter school surrendered Tuesday on sexual battery charges at the Wake County Magistrate's Office. Two female employees at East Wake Academy have accused Brandon Smith, 57, of Wendell, of inappropriately touching and talking to them.

He was charged with two counts of sexual battery and is due in court July 10.

Attorney James Hairston said his client "adamantly denies" any inappropriate contact or misconduct with teachers at the school.

But this isn't the first time Smith has faced such allegations. Court records show a teacher at Smith's former school, Githens Middle School in Durham, accused him of sexual harassment.

She filed a lawsuit against the Durham County School Board, but it was later dismissed.

"That's been resolved. That's 10 years old. He has worked at East Wake for 10 years without any problem," Hairston said. "Obviously from that time and the resolution of that case, he's re-established his reputation as an administrator and an educator."

Hairston said his client looks forward to his day in court.

Last month, Smith sued his accusers and East Wake Academy for defamation, civil conspiracy and emotional distress.

According to the lawsuit, one of the employees claims that Smith commented on how good she looked in her pants and then followed her into a lounge and "pulled the back of my pants out and down and stated, 'You don't mind if I look at your tattoo, do you?'"

The other employee accused Smith of making comments on several occasions about her sleeping with him, according to court documents.

Smith served as headmaster of the school for a decade before being fired in March shortly after the allegations surfaced.


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Although students sometimes get "the skinny" I would not place too much stock in what they say as far as facts are concerned. Too, "she probably wouldn't return anyway" sounds like the proverbial " definite possiblity of an affirmative maybe." As Brandon himself used to say...."Employees of EWA work at the pleasure of the board and they can fire you any time they see fit." That seems to most certainly be true.

Makin my day!! :0

He'll look cute in orange! When Big Bruno pulls the back of his pants down and looks and says "you don't mind if I look do you."? Will will Brandon do then? And can Big Bruno sue for defamation of character and emotional stress if Brandon tells on him??

I want to see the e-mails. All the yada yada about tats is a big waste of time.

ChicoDusty - I am not a supporter of tatoos, but I think the term 'tramp stamp' is overused, especially in this case. tightywhit__2 does make a good point, though.

You are intitled to your opinion and I also agree with tightywit - thought it was quite funny!!!

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