A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) employee has been arrested and charged with taking indecent liberties with a student as well as a kidnapping charge.

DAVID LUCAS

David Lucas, age 25, was arrested on Feb. 8 and charged with indecent liberties with a child, taking indecent liberties with a student by a school administrator, and first-degree kidnapping.

The exact nature of the kidnapping charge is clear in the arrest record, however, depending on the circumstances, first-degree kidnapping can either be a Class C (44 to 182 months in prison) or Class E felony (15 to 63 months in prison).

Records access on Feb. 9 show Lucas is being held at the Mecklenburg Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond

Lucas is employed by the district as a “family engagement advocate” and had been working at Wilson STEM Academy at the time of the arrest. The victim is a student at the school.

In a statement to the media, CMS said Lucas has been suspended with pay:

“The employee in question has been suspended with pay, pending investigation. It is our understanding that CMPD Crimes Against Children unit is conducting a separate investigation.”

There is no teaching NC license on file with the state for Lucas.