A Surry County teacher has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Andy Ray Atkins

Andy Ray Atkins, age 47, has been charged with five counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.

A second-degree charge of this nature in North Carolina is possessing and/or transfer of images of a sexual nature involving a minor. In other words, copying or passing around child pornography.

Since child pornography is also a federal crime, other charges will likely follow.

Atkins was issued a $125,000 secured bond and his next court date is March 6.

The Surry County Sheriff issued a press release:

“Mr. Atkins’ arrest was as a direct result of several months of investigation conducted by the Surry County Sheriff’s Office into allegations of receiving and obtaining child pornography. The investigation began after the Surry County Sheriff’s Office received information about an employee within the Surry County school system having inappropriate conversations through social media.”

The Sheriff’s press release also said that Atkins was interviewed and at that time law enforcement took his electronic devices. Search warrants for Atkins’ social media accounts were also executed. Charges were then filed as a result of the information gathered from both sources.

Neither law enforcement nor the Surry County School district would comment on whether or not minors in the schools where Atkins worked were involved.

Atkins was fired from his positions at Gentry Middle and Mountain Park Elementary schools on June 28, 2018, according to Surry County Schools director of communications Dr. Tracey Lewis.