An employee of Edgecombe Public Schools has been arrested on multiple sex crime charges involving students.

STEPHEN MOORE WELLS

Stephen Moore Wells, age 69, was arrested on Oct. 5 by the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office on three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery and one count of felony indecent liberties with a child.

Wells was issued a $40,000 secured bond which he posted and was released within an hour of his arrest.

Deputies said they were notified on Sept. 8 by the principal of South Edgecombe Middle School of an alleged sexual assault that had occurred on Sept. 7. The incident involved inappropriate touching of a 14-year-old student.

In an interview, the student in question told deputies that she also saw Wells touch two younger students; ages 12 and 13 years old. The parents of those students were informed and during interviews, those two students confirmed Wells had inappropriately touched them.

According to law enforcement, all of the alleged crimes happened on a school bus.

Wells’ employment status as a both a custodian and bus driver is unknown at this time. He has worked for the school system for at least 7 to 10 years, per law enforcement handling the case.

Edgecombe County Public Schools said in a statement that the district is “cooperating fully with law enforcement during their investigation and encourages anyone with information to contact the Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office,”