LCHS teacher accused of improper relationship with student, other offenses

Nancy McCleary, The Sanford Herald, N.C.
·2 min read

May 10—A Lee County High School teacher is alleged to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student and faces additional charges on several non-related incidents.

Frank Mauricio De Leon, 56, of the 500 block of Hickory Avenue, Sanford, is charged with three felony counts of secret peeping, taking indecent liberties with a minor and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Investigators executed a search warrant at De Leon's residence on Thursday where items of evidence were seized, Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes said in a news release.

"Upon further investigation and with the assistance of the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit, evidence of numerous unrelated criminal offenses were located," Estes said.

De Leon was hired in Lee County in 2021 as an English as a Second Language teacher, according to information on his LinkedIn page. Prior to that, he worked as an information technology technician in Harnett County Schools from January 2020 until August 2021.

On Friday, Lee County Schools released a statement regarding the investigation and arrest.

"Lee County Schools is aware of the arrest of former employee Frank De Leon as reported earlier today, and believes that additional information should be shared with respect to the school system's role in this case," the statement said. "Mr. De Leon's employment with the school system ended on April 19 following a school system investigation of concerns about non-sexual but inappropriate behavior toward a student. The school's findings were reported to law enforcement, and contributed to the additional investigation by law enforcement that led to Mr. De Leon's arrest on separate charges that we understand do not involve any current or former LCS student. The school system is grateful for its partnership with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, whose responsiveness and thorough investigation uncovered these much more serious concerns from outside of school."

De Leon was booked into the Lee County Jail at 3:17 p.m. Thursday. Bail was set at $250,000.

"I have been directly and indirectly involved in many investigations throughout my career," Estes said in the release. "These types of crimes are the absolute toughest on our investigators, the victims and their families. My office will exhaust every ounce of effort, targeting these predators to keep them out of our community."