CHARLOTTE, NC– Twenty-eight year old Diana Farnell turned herself into police Thursday after a warrant for her arrest was issued on suspicion of sex offense with a student.
According to a police report, the victim is a 17-year-old boy who attends Union Academy Charter School where Farnell has been a teacher.
Parents at the school are saddened and shocked by the news.
“I just hate that it has happened at this school. They teach all the ethics, all the morals and it’s just such a great school and I hate that its happened to them,” says Becky Zazeski, a parent.
One student who didn’t want to be identified says he had an English class with Farnell.
“When these certain high school boys would come in, she would start getting all lovey with them,” says the student.
WCCB went to Farnell’s house in Fort Mill to hear her side of the story but nobody came to the door.
Neighbors of Farnell’s are concerned and question what is being done to keep suspected predators out of classrooms.
“What are the background checks? Ok, you do a background check- and is that it? You get one a year and you’re done?” asks a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
Meanwhile, parents back at school are wondering how to talk to their kids about their teacher’s arrest.
Zezeski says it won’t be easy. “Everyone just has to decide on their own how to handle it.”
The police report lists Farnell as ‘unemployed.’ We reached out to the school to find out if she is still a teacher there. We are waiting to hear back.
