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Iredell County deputies say Derone McNeill has been arrested in connection to the sexual assault of a student between 2012 and 2014.
McNeill was arrested Wednesday in Forsyth County, officials say, after arrest warrants were issued on March 26th.
According to reports, McNeill is a former Athletic Director at Statesville Christian School where the victim was a student. The victim says she was sexually assaulted by McNeill multiple times between 2012 and 2014.
Investigators say additional crimes also took place within the Statesville city limits. Statesville Police have issued additional charges in relation to those crimes.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office has charged McNeill with two counts of Felony Second Degree Forcible Rape, two counts of Felony Second Degree Forcible Sex Offense, and three counts of Felony Sexual Activity with a Student by School Personnel.
McNeill faces more than 70 charges total. He is being held under a $2 million bond.
Original Story (March 26, 2019):
STATESVILLE, NC — A teacher assistant with Iredell-Statesville Schools is accused of sexually assaulting a student at Statesville Christian School on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2014.
Derone McNeill, 47, was arrested Tuesday on more than 70 charges related to the crimes. McNeill, who currently works at the Pressly Alternative School, was placed on immediate leave with pay, according to police, after school officials were notified of the investigation.
Statesville Police say the report was filed on March 7th. According to investigators, the crimes took place on multiple occasions between February 2012 and May 2014.
McNeill started working for Iredell-Statesville Schools in May 2017, according to the school district, as a teacher assistant and bus driver at Pressly.
McNeill is charged with 26 counts of second-degree rape, 26 counts of second-degree forcible sex offense and 26 counts of sexual activity with a student. Officials say additional charges from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office may be forthcoming for possible crimes that occurred outside the city limits.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Statesville Police at 704-878-3515.
