Witness: Assistant Principal's Alleged Victim Hid Under Bed

Lillington, N.C. — Defense attorneys for a former Raleigh assistant principal charged with sexually abusing a child tried to undermine the state's case Tuesday during a probable cause hearing.

Two investigators took the stand in the case against Larry Ray Jewell: Harnett County Sheriff's Office detective Jamie Wicker and Dunn Police Sgt. David Whittenton.

Jewell, 57, of Dunn, who worked at Southeast Raleigh High School, was arrested Feb. 15 on charges that he sexually abused a boy in his care.

The accuser told the Harnett County Sheriff's Office that Jewell first abused him in 1999 while living with his father in Coats, N.C.

Wicker testified that some of the incidents happened in Jewell's car along a dirt road. She also said the alleged victim often hid under his bed when Jewell came to the house.

The boy's father was later convicted on federal charges of having child pornography on his computer, but the FBI found no evidence of sexual abuse against the boy.

It was then that the accuser moved in with Jewell at his home in Dunn.

Jewell's attorney, Jesse Jones, also grilled Wicker for not looking into the federal case against the alleged victim's dad.

Jones also criticized the Dunn Police Department for never searching Jewell's home after his arrest, nor seizing his computer.

Sgt. Whittenton said his department had no probable cause for a search.

This hearing will continue Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Jones will present at least two witnesses.