Name: Former Rocky Mount student sues guidance counselor for sexual abuse
Uploaded: 2022-01-27T18:17:00-0500
Duration: 165232
Description: An ex-guidance counselor at Rocky Mount Academy is being sued by a former student who accuses him of having a sexual relationship with her while she was underage.

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An ex-guidance counselor at Rocky Mount Academy is being sued by a former student who accuses him of having a sexual relationship with her while she was underage. 

TODAY HIS LAWYER TOLD THE COURT THEY WILL USE THE INSANITY DEFENSE. THAT MEANS HE WILL ADMIT TO HIS ACTIONS, BUT CLAIM A LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE OF A MENTAL ILLNESS. THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF PLEADING NOT GUILTY. >>> AND X GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AT ROCKY MOUNT ACADEMY IS BEING SUED BY A FORMER STUDENT WHO ACCUSES HIM OF HAVING A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, WHILE SHE WAS UNDERAGE. WRAL'S KEENAN WILLARD SPOKE WITH  THE ABUSER FOR THIS INTERVIEW YOU WILL ONLY SEE ON WRAL. >> Reporter: DURING HER JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AT ROCKY MOUNT ACADEMY  IN JANUARY OF 2009, WELLS SAYS SHE STARTED TO STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION. HER FRIENDS ENCOURAGED HER TO STOP TO THE COOLS SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT THE TIME. RICK ELLIS. THEY STATED CONSTANTLY MESSAGING EACH OTHER ALL HOURS OF THE DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE OTHER 35-YEAR-OLD ELLIS SHARING SECRETS AND INTIMATE DETAILS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE. >> LOOKING BACK NOW I REALIZE HE WAS GROOMING ME. I DID NOT HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OR THE AWARENESS AT THAT TIME TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING >> Reporter: WITHIN MONTHS, WELLS SAYS THE RELATIONSHIP ESCALATED. >> IN APRIL 2009, THAT IS WHEN HE STARTED SEXUALLY ABUSING ME, OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. AND, I STARTED GOING OVER TO HIS HOUSE ONCE OR TWICE PER WEEK . THAT CONTINUED UNTIL I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH COLLEGE. >> Reporter: ELLIS HAS NEVER BEEN CRIMINALLY CHARGED FOR ABUSING WELLS. FROM THAT POINT ON, WELLS SAYS ELLIS QUICKLY BECAME CONTROLLING AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE. >> WELLS SAYS AFTER GRADUATE, ELLIS COERCED HER INTO GOING TO COLLEGE IN FLORIDA, WHERE HE HAD GOTTEN A NEW JOB AS A COUNSELOR, AWAY FROM HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THE SITUATION BECAME TOO MUCH TO BEAR. >> I FINALLY DECIDED TO TRANSFER TO UNC AND I WAS ABLE TO BREAK IT OFF AND BREAK FREE AT THE END OF MY FRESHMAN YEAR. >> Reporter: IN THE YEARS AFTER LEAVING ELLIS, WELLS SAYS SHE HAS HEALED THROUGH THERAPY BUT SHE IS STILL DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THE ABUSE. >> I STRUGGLED WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SUM UP HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IMPACTS YOUR. >> Reporter: BY THE TIME SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO HOLD ELLIS ACCOUNTABLE, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON THE ABUSE HAD RUN OUT BUT IN 2019, NORTH CAROLINA PASSED THE SAFE CHILD ACT, A LAW GIVING VICTIMS OF ABUSE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW TO TAKE LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST THEIR ABUSERS. WELLS IS SUING ELLIS FOR THE ALLEGED ABUSE AS WELL AS ROCKY MOUNT ACADEMY, AND TWO FORMER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR FOR FAILING TO PUT A STOP TO IT. THEY HAVE MESSAGES BETWEEN WELLS AND ELLIS AND PICTURES THAT PROVE THE RELATIONSHIP HAPPENED. WELLS SAYS SHE IS HOPING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TO USE HER VOICE TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT UNDERAGE VICTIMS CAN'T GIVE CONSENT. KEENAN WILLARD, WRAL NEWS. >>> WRAL HAS REACHED OUT TO ELLIS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR  A RESPONSE TO THESE ALLEGATIONS. HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. ELLIS STILL WORKS AS A COUNSELOR AT A PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL IN FLORIDA AND THE SCHOOL THERE DID NOT RESPOND TO

Keenan Willard

Heather Leah

Former Rocky Mount student sues guidance counselor for sexual abuse

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I'm meteorologist, Amy Wilma in the WRL severe weather center, we had a dry warm day today, but a cold front is off to the west of us and it arrives tomorrow and brings the potential for some scattered showers and some thunderstorms. It's a pretty potent system today with a level three out of five risk for part of the Midwest. But the severe weather will be moving eastward as this cold front moves eastward as well. And we'll have the risk for severe storms tomorrow. Although the storm energy will not be as high tomorrow as it is today. There's a lot of storm energy west of us today and that's why they have that higher risk for severe storms. But as this system moves closer to North Carolina, it does weaken. We could still have some isolated severe storms but we have weak to moderate energy. We don't have the strong energy that they have west of us today. So it's a level one risk for most of us Friday. This is in the afternoon and evening. So isolated severe storms possible. The biggest threat will be some damaging winds and a potential for some hail as Well, the first half of the day is dry, so no rain worries for the morning commute. But by the time we get to the afternoon and evening, that's when we'll have scattered showers and storms and any of the storms that do form could become severe. And our highest rain chances are right during the evening commute. So about a 40% chance for rain tomorrow as we move ahead to Saturday, only a slim chance for a shower, a 20% chance for rain. But then a decent chance for rain on Sunday, we don't expect storms, but mainly the second half of our Sunday will have some scattered showers and it will be a cooler day. Here's a look at the rain over the weekend again, just a slim chance for rain on Saturday. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low to mid seventies. Sunday morning looks mainly dry with a little bit of rain over some of our southern counties. But then as we head toward the afternoon, a better chance for rain, especially south and east of the triangle. And then during the evening is when some of that rain lifts to the north and includes a good part of the viewing area on Sunday. So the second half of the day certainly looks like the wettest part of the day, still warm Friday with a high of 84. And then we're down into the mid seventies Saturday, high temperatures will be in the low to mid sixties for Sunday and Monday with some chilly mornings, Monday morning and Tuesday morning. Down into the forties, we warm back up next week though. 74 on Tuesday, 78 Wednesday and near 70 for a high temperature on Thursday.

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Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's joins for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a three. Our second number is three also and our third number tonight is two and our pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for tonight's drawing is our auditor from mcconal and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone is that first winning pick four number. It's a seven. Our second number is six. Third number tonight is seven again and our fourth number is two and our pick for a fireball number is an eight. We're turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow, our prize is estimated at $235,000. Good luck. Everyone. Who's that first winning cash five number. It's 22. Second number is five third number tonight is it 25. Our fourth number is 10 and the final number in our cash drive this evening is 21. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education Thanks to your support. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

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Good afternoon. I'm back. Global. Welcome to this news drawings for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three numbers zero. The second is one, the third is six that are pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for a con and Jones L LP. Now move on to Carolina pick for the first four. Number is three. The second is for the third is 54, is seven in our pick four. Fireball number is nine. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks for your support and thanks for playing.

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After 22 years in business, Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.



WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND. I'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP. THE LIST OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH BUSINESSES SHUTTING THEIR DOORS IS ARMADILLO GRILL IS THE LATEST TO CLOSE FOR GOOD. >> WRAL'S SEAN GALLAGHER IS IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO FIND OUT WITH THIS MEANS FOR THE GLENN WOOD, SOUTH AREA. SEAN, THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS. >> YEAH, THIS WAS VERY ABRUPT SO ABRUPT THAT WE'VE SEEN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE TRYING TO GET LUNCH ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY'RE MET WITH THIS SIGN ON THE DOOR, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS LOCATION. NOW, THIS TEX MEX RESTAURANT CALL THE CORNER OF GLENWOOD AVENUE AND TUCKER STREET HOME FOR THE LAST. 22 YEARS. IN A FACEBOOK POST, THE OWNERS SAY CHANGES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND RISING COSTS ARE WHY THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THIS LOCATION. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF STAPLE BUSINESSES RALLY, CLOSING CLOUDS BREWING, SHUT DOWN ITS RALEIGH TAVERN ON WEST STREET EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE CAPITAL CLUB. 16 IS SHUTTING DOWN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. OUR BELOVED REAL SAID THEY WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION TO SERVE THE RALEIGH COMMUNITY. BUT FOR SHARE MCCRACKEN OF GARDEN SCAPE DESIGNER FOR BUSINESSES AROUND THIS AREA. THIS IS JUST A SIGN OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> IT'S ELEVATING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO KIND OF ROLL WITH IT. NATURALLY COMING TO AN END AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPOT THAT'S PERFECT FOR THEM. BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THERE IS A CHANGE GOING ON ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. >> AN ARMADILLO GRILL WILL ARE STILL OFFER THEIR CATERING SERVICES HERE AND THEY WILL STILL OPERATE THEIR FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN CARRBORO. BUT RENEE, THAT'S ABOUT 40 MINUTES AWAY RIGHT NEAR UNC CAMPUS. >> WHILE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A LOT FARTHER AND WE WILL SEE WHAT ENDS UP TAKING ITS PLACE. THERE ON GLENWOOD

Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

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Is powerball. Good evening, everyone. I'm Randy Trainer. Tonight. We have our life changing jackpot. It's estimated to be $80.7 million to get your tickets ready. Here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 24. Right after that America. We have the number 54 and congratulations to Lisa Hayes from Illinois. She won $2 million playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning number is 4447. And let's round it out tonight with the number 29 and tonight's win powerball number that's gonna be two and your power play multiplier is two. Let's take a look at tonight's winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. Good luck, everyone. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

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>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. HELLO, MAYOR COMES ON CODE IS TUESDAY. APRIL 16TH AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 148 MILLION DOLLARS. >> DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. TONIGHT'S DRAWING HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED. ONCE THE MALFUNCTION IS CORRECTED, THE DRAWING WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE AUDITOR. WE SAY TO THE STATION FOR ALL WINNING NUMBERS. >> SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP HOW

Former Rocky Mount student sues guidance counselor for sexual abuse

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