Edgecombe teacher charged with sexual misconduct

A Southwest Edgecombe High School teacher was charged Wednesday with sex crimes involving students, Sheriff James Knight said.

Andrew Joyner Harrell, 28. of 1710 Lewis Road in Fountain, was charged with indecent liberties with a student and felony dissemination of obscenity. He was placed in the Edgecombe County jail under a $5,000 bond.

School officials called authorities Wednesday about a possible sex offense involving a staff member and students. Knight said investigators determined that, during the 2013-14 school year, a teacher sent a photo of his genitals to one student and tried to have another student perform a sex act.

Harrell is a physical education teacher and baseball coach at Southwest Edgecombe High. There was no immediate word on any disciplinary action taken by the school.