Former Fayetteville teacher charged with 50+ sex crimes

William Landon Smith, 29, of Wade, was charged with 27 counts of first-degree sex exploitation of a minor, 28 counts of indecent liberties with a student and one count of secretly using or installing a photographic device to arouse or gratify sexual desire.

Cumberland County deputies said Smith communicated with minors through social media apps such as Snapchat. Deputies said one of the known accounts Smith used was under the account name "Landonology90."

"While the allegations are extremely disturbing, they are not representative of the 6,000-plus dedicated employees who serve our students on a daily basis," said a Cumberland County Schools spokesman said in a statement. "As a part of regular procedures, Cumberland County Schools conducts extensive background checks on all employees and conducts ethics trainings for employees."

Smith was hired as a science teacher at Cape Fear High School in August 2018. A spokesman for the school district said Smith had been suspended without pay on Dec. 2, 2021. He then resigned on Jan. 28, 2022.

Investigators are still looking for more minors who may have communicated with Smith.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective S. Odenwelder at 910-677-5477 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.