A former Beaufort County teacher is facing charges of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

ABIGAIL HOPE SPENCER

On April 13, Abigail Hope Spencer, age 21, was arrested by the Washington Police Department with felony taking indecent liberties with a student.

Indecent liberties is one of two crimes being addressed by a bill that unanimously passed the North Carolina House at the end of March. House Bill 142, among other things, raises the penalty for taking indecent liberties with a minor or student from a level I felony to a level G felony.

The incident involved a male student under the age of 18 and the alleged crime happened on Dec. 17, 2022, according to police.

Spencer was released from jail within hours of her arrest on a $5,000 bond. June 29 is her next appearance in Beaufort County court.

Spencer taught science at the Washington Montessori Public Charter School (WMPCS) high school and had worked at the school since the 2021-2022 school year.

She apparently resigned from her position sometime during the December holiday break before the school’s administration knew anything about the alleged incident with the student. Per the school’s attorney Lisa Gordon Stella, once the allegations came to light the police were immediately contacted and the school “complied with all legal duties.”

WMPCS families received a letter from the school’s Board of Trustees Chairman Jamie Midgette on April 18. The letter described the charges against a former employee but did not name Spencer or give any details.

Letter to families from WMPCS Board of Trustees chairman

There does not appear to be a teaching license on file with the state for Spencer.