Harnett County teacher faces child sex charges

Shawn Christopher Hicks is facing three charges of indecent liberties with a student.

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office said that Hicks’ three alleged victims are students at Harnett Central Middle School. The sheriff's office said the offenses did not happen at the school, but at Hicks' home in the Mitchell Ponds Mobile Estates outside of Lillington.

"These kids are going to be scared for a long time. The parents, they've got a tough job ahead of them now trying to get these kids, these young adults, the attention that they're going to need," said Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats.

A spokesperson for Harnett County Schools said Hicks worked at the middle school from Dec. 19, 2016, to Feb. 25, 2022, as as a science teacher. Hicks was no longer employed with the school system, the spokesperson said.

"While we cannot comment on specific personnel issues, Harnett County Schools has high expectations for the professionalism and conduct of the staff. HCS takes any concerns about staff conduct very seriously, and swiftly investigates and takes appropriate action when concerns are raised," the school system said in a statement.

Hicks was once named Beginning Teacher of the Year for a program he set up at the school to help young men without father figures in their lives.

"He had a mentoring program, and I think that was run out of his home," said Coats.

An investigation was started on Feb. 26, the sheriff's office said, and warrants for Hicks' arrest were obtained around April 1. Sources told WRAL News Hicks not only used his position as a teacher to lure students to his home, but also his position as a pastor at a church in Bunn to seek out potential victim.

"Well we've got three confirmed cases," said Coats, "that doesn't mean there aren't anymore out there."

Authorities did not say what triggered the investigation.

Hicks turned himself in on Wednesday morning. He received a $50,000 bond for the charges