A former Cumberland County Public Schools teacher was arrested on July 31 on sex crime charges. This is the second former Cumberland teacher in a week to be arrested.

Updates to this article can be found at the bottom of the page.

BRITTAN LEIGH PHILLIPS

Brittan Leigh Phillips, age 49, was arrested by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s office and charged with sex offense with a student and crimes against nature. Both crimes are felonies.

She was taken into custody on Aug. 1 and was released the same day after being issued a $25,000 secured bond and making her first appearance in court at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

Brittan charges are from the time period when she was a teacher at Douglas Byrd Middle School.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Phillips has also worked at Long Hill Elementary in Fayetteville.

The case is ongoing, per a statement made by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.

“The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office encourages all parents, guardians, and caregivers to speak with their children about inappropriate touching and appropriate relationships. If you see something, say something,” reads the statement from the sheriff’s office.

The Cumberland Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about this investigation should contact Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Detective J. Jones at (910) 677-5457 or Crimestoppers at (910)483-TIPS (8477).

Records show Phillips has a valid North Carolina teaching license in the areas of Elementary Education (K-6)​, English 9-12​, Social Studies 6-9​, and Language Arts 6-9. The license was issued in 2021 and will expire on June 30, 2026, unless revoked before that time.

Brittan is the second Cumberland County Public Schools teacher to be arrested in the last week.

Darrell James Tyner, age 53, was arrested on July 26 on two counts of second degree sex offense involving a minor child in an off-campus incident per charging documents.

Updates:

Cumberland County Public Schools issued the following statement:

We are deeply concerned about these allegations, which do not reflect the professionalism and integrity of the many premier professionals who work hard on behalf of our students every day. Our top priority is always our students’ and staff’s safety and well-being. Before hiring employees, we conduct extensive background checks. In addition, employees are reminded annually of district procedures and expectations during the CCS Employee Handbook review period. District officials will continue to cooperate with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office as they lead these investigations.

The district also provided employment details for both Phillips and Tyner.

Brittan Phillips’ employment spanned from 8/2006 – 6/2007 as a Communications Skills teacher at Douglas Byrd Middle School. From 8/2007 to 6/2017 she served as an Elementary teacher a Long Hill Elementary.

Beginning in August of 2017 through the present day, Phillips taught English at Cape Fear High School. The district indicated she is currently suspended with pay.

According to the district, Darrell Tyner “is a 5th-grade teacher at Montclair Elementary.” He started that position on Aug. 17, 2015, and “continues to remain employed.”

“Our 10-month teachers do not return to the classroom until August 14, 2023,” a district spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. “At that time, his employment status will become suspended with pay.”

Per the email from the district, “Members of the media should NOT go on campus to interview students, parents, and/or staff members. We politely request that media outlets stay across the street.”

The spokesperson also cited “personnel confidentiality laws,” as the reason the district will not elaborate on specific personnel disciplinary actions and referred legal questions to the proper law enforcement entities.

The district did not answer whether or not background checks were performed on Phillips or Tyner nor whether or not the NC State Board of Education or Department of Public Instruction had been informed of the situation.

UPDATES

May 13, 2025: Phillips was convicted on a principal charge of child abuse, a Class 1 misdemeanor. She was given a suspended sentence of 18 months probation.

June 3, 2025: Tyner was given 30 days in jail and was fined $375. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.
The charges included “Sex Act by a guardian/custodian,” and assault on a female.