Second accuser comes forward in Cape Fear Christian Academy case; lawyers allege more victims possible

The Harnett County Sheriff's Office is investigating at least one new case involving the Cape Fear Christian Academy employee who is already charged with sexually assaulting one student athlete who was staying at her house.

Posted 2:12 a.m. Apr 1, 2021 — Updated 2:02 p.m. Apr 1, 2021

Ali Ingersoll

, WRAL data journalist

ERWIN, N.C. — The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office is investigating at least one new case involving the Cape Fear Christian Academy employee who is already charged with sexually assaulting a student-athlete who was staying at her house.

At least two Cape Fear Christian Academy basketball players now have lawyers. Two men and their families have retained Coleman Cowan of Farrin Law Firm in Durham and Bakari Sellers from Strom Law Firm, a Columbia, S.C.-based office.

They’re all asking more questions about the school's chief financial officer, Tammy Moran, as well as what the private school knew and when.

The young men - being referred to as John Doe #1 and #2 - allege Moran sexually abused them in her home, where they were staying while students at Cape Fear Christian Academy.

"What happened is bad enough alone," said Cowan, of Durham, in a Zoom interview with WRAL News. "But then to have that violation of that trust by someone you expect to take care of your children and that doesn't happen, makes it particularly egregious."

Both of the John Does were minors when the alleged abuse happened. The family of one accuser told WRAL's Gilbert Baez that the abuse was reported to the school.

"That's one of the big questions that the the parents don't understand is how this woman was put in this position of trust such that she could violate it like this and what the school knew and what did they do about it," Cowan said.

On Wednesday, WRAL News reached out to the Cape Fear Christian Academy asking those same questions as well as if Moran was fired and if so, when. School leaders did not reply by 10 p.m.

In the case of the first victim, investigators found digital evidence of the abuse. On Wednesday, attorneys revealed that similar evidence exists for the second victim.

There was not overlap in the periods the boys say the abuse happened. One John Doe is reporting the acts took place in 2018 and 2019, the other from 2020 to earlier this year.

The lawyers are now focused on finding other potential victims.

"Through our investigations, as preliminary as they are, and in discussions with both our clients and law enforcement, we were pretty positive that there are more individuals out there who have had improper communications or whatever they may be with Miss Moran," Sellers said.

It's an investigation that could lead to a civil case, the attorneys told WRAL News. It is unclear at this time if Cape Fear Christian Academy has legal representation.

As for Moran, she remains in the Harnett County Jail on $150,000 bond. She is facing three counts of sexual acts by a substitute parent - a felony offense which carries a possible sentence of 15 to 63 months in jail, per count.

She’s due back in court May 18.

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