A teacher from South Mecklenburg High School in North Carolina, identified as Gabriela Neufeld, has been arrested on charges of engaging in se*xual activity with an 18-year-old male student. The arrest was made by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Neufeld, 26, was taken into custody on allegations of felony se*xual activity with a student by a teacher.
The incident, reportedly involving se*xual contact, took place on November 29, leading to Neufeld’s arrest and subsequent release on bond from the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. During a court hearing, prosecutors revealed that the student’s mother discovered the alleged se*xual contact over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to local news outlet WCNC.
Using the Life360 app, a family safety location app, the mother noticed her son had missed a sports practice. Upon tracking his location, she purportedly witnessed him engaging in se*xual contact with Neufeld in a parked car. The mother promptly took photos of the car and license plate, then contacted the police, who arrived at the scene and arrested Neufeld, according to WSOC-TV.
According to court documents, Neufeld and the student were allegedly involved in a se*xual act at least five times since October 18. North Carolina state law prohibits se*xual relations between teachers and students unless they are “lawfully married.” In response to the incident, a judge ordered Neufeld to be placed on electronic monitoring and prohibited any communication with the 18-year-old student.
CMS issued a notice to parents regarding the alleged assault and shared it with WCNC. It reads as follows:
“Good morning South Meck High School families. This is Principal Marc Angerer with a message about a news story you may have seen regarding a South Meck teacher. Although I cannot discuss personnel information, I wanted to inform you that we take this matter seriously. We share your concerns regarding this situation. The safety and security of our students and staff are of the utmost importance to us all, and while this is a troubling situation, it is being managed by law enforcement. Thank you for your support of South Meck High School.”
Neufeld, previously a biology and AP biology teacher for ninth to twelfth-grade students, was addressed in a message to the school’s families by the principal. The message emphasized the seriousness with which the school is handling the situation, expressing concerns for the safety and security of students and staff. Law enforcement is actively managing the troubling matter.
For those who may have experienced se*xual abuse or know someone who has, the Crisis Text Line offers support. Text “STRENGTH” to 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor.
