Last month, Statesville area Assistant Teacher Derone Martin McNeill was charged with 79 sex-related felonies. Seven more charges have now been added, bringing his total to 86.

Derone Martin McNeill

In March, Statesville Police issued a statement charging Derone Martin McNeill with 26 counts each of second-degree rape, second-degree forcible sex offense and sexual activity with a student.

The new charges added to McNeill are 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.

The total charges against McNeill at this time are 28 counts each of second-degree rape and second-degree forcible sex offense and 29 counts of sexual activity with a student.

The alleged crimes spanned a two-year period between February 2012 through May 2014 while McNeill had been working at the Statesville Christian School, but at the time of his arrest, he was working at the Pressly Alternative School, which is part of the Iredell-Statesville district.

Derone Martin McNeill (DMV photo)

An Iredell-Statesville Schools spokesperson said in a statement that McNeill is suspended with pay, pending an investigation.

McNeill had been held on a $2 million dollar bond, but according to a report by Statesville.com, court records show that on April 8 his bond was dropped by Judge Christine Underwood to a mere $100,000 and he was released.

Included in the Statesville.com article is the recusal of District 22A Attorney Sarah Kirkman from the case and that District 22B Attorney Garry Frank indicated that Robert Taylor was taking over the case as the prosecutor.

Statesville.com also reports that “Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said that McNeill was arrested April 3 after being released from a hospital. Neither Campbell nor Addison gave a reason for McNeill’s admission to the hospital.”