Caron Blanton
LAWNDALE, N.C – A Cleveland County middle school teacher has been arrested for sending videos of a sexual nature to a student, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
Caron Blanton, 34, turned herself in to the sheriff’s office Monday around 3 p.m. and was charged with three counts of indecent liberties with a child and six counts of disseminating obscene material to a minor under 16.
She was given a $150,000 bond.
Deputies say the investigation began when officials from Burns Middle School reported that a male student had “an inappropriate video” that had been sent to him by a female teacher.
School administrators confiscated the student’s cell phone and called the sheriff’s office.
Through the course of the investigation, deputies identified two students they say had received inappropriate videos as well as obscene pictures of Blanton.
Blanton resigned from her job after the sheriff’s department launched the criminal investigation into her actions in early April.
School officials say she was suspended from her job before she resigned on April 10.
Sheriff Alan Norman said in part, “The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office takes all matters of this nature extremely serious. Through a complete and thorough investigation a second victim was identified that was not previously known to law enforcement.”
He added that the investigation is ongoing and that there could be additional charges coming.
Norman also offered advice to parents, “I hope all parents will take time to find out who their children are communicating with and what those communications involve. Technology is so sophisticated today that anything can occur or be transmitted via a cell phone.”
