A teacher at a charter school in Columbus County has been arrested on sex crime charges involving a 7th-grade student.

SCOTT DALE TODD

Scott Dale Todd, age 29, was arrested on Nov. 15 by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and has been charged with a total of six counts of indecent liberties with a student.

Three of the counts were added after Todd’s initial arrest. His secured bond was set at $300,000 and he bonded out of jail on Nov. 16.

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

Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) issued a lengthy statement on Facebook.

“On November 01, 2023, Classical Charter School of Whiteville notified the school resource officer (SRO) of a suspected inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student. School administration and the SRO immediately launched an initial investigation,” the CCSO’s statement reads. “At that time, the suspect, Scott Dale Todd, 29, was employed with the school as an assistant physical education teacher, a bus driver, and a coach for the female soccer team.”

The CCSO statement goes on to say Todd’s employment with the school was “terminated early in the investigation.”

“After the initial investigation, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division took over the investigation. Search warrants were obtained for electronic devices, surveillance footage was utilized, and witnesses were interviewed,” per the CCSO statement.  “At the conclusion of the investigation, it was concluded that Todd had inappropriate emotional and physical contact with the 7th grade student while conducting his official duties and during his leisure time.”

The statement goes on to say warrants were issued on Nov. 15 and Todd was arrested the same day.

Sheriff Rogers commended Classical Charter School of Whiteville for their “swift and decisive actions in response to the suspected inappropriate conduct.”

Updates: Todd was convicted on Nov. 18, 2024 of felony indecent liberties with a minor. He was sentenced to community service and 60 months of supervised probation/parole. Todd was also required to register as a sex offender.