Local Principal Faces Felony Charges After Police Discover Child Pornography

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins by Darnell Hart, Photographer

Story Created: Mar 15, 2013 at 10:52 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 15, 2013 at 11:04 PM EDT

ROCK HILL, SC--Police patrolled Sullivan Middle School in Rock Hill after a tough day for some
concerned parents. "It's terrible...it's not fair," said Rock Hill Resident Darrell Erby.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police say the school's assistant principal, Darin Pearson, was arrested
and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators say they found child pornography on multiple electronic devices inside his home. Police in Nashville tipped them off that the 32 year old was trading child porn. Camilo Laverde says Pearson used to be his neighbor.
"You couldn't expect that from anybody...especially from a guy you probably see couple times a week," said Laverde.

Pearson has been an administrator at Sullivan Middle School since he was named "Teacher of the Year" in 2007. Before that he was a teacher for at least five years. "I'm just in all shock. That's all," said Rock Hill resident Jessica Alejandro. Alejandro says she worked closely with Pearson.
"You would never...I've never expected it from him, she said.

No one came to the door after we rang the bell at Pearson's NODA home. On his Twitter page, he bragged about being savvy with technology. Recommending other students and schools follow his lead. Last January he wrote, "The more they have access, the more it becomes part of
(the) culture of 'what we do'." Now parents are trying to figure out what to do when it comes to explaining  what happened."It's messed up. It's messed up. Technology is messing everything up right now.  Whatever he did he needs to be punished for that," Erby said.

Detectives say they don't believe any Charlotte students were assaulted. Pearson is now scheduled to appear before a judge for the first time on Monday.

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