WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Teacher charged with indecent liberties with student

Teacher charged with indecent liberties with student

Richard Priode, 44, of Green Lea Court in Charlotte, teaches band at Sullivan Middle School in Rock Hill, police said.  The relationship between the two happened while Priode taught at South Mecklenburg High School in 2007.

Priode, who was arrested early Thursday morning, faces a felony charge and was held on a $25,000 bond in the Mecklenburg County Jail.

The incidents allegedly occurred at South Mecklenburg High School, where Priode used to teach, police said. The incident allegedly was reported in April, but Priode was still able to secure a job in the Rock Hill School System.

Elaine Baker of the Rock Hill School System said the schools conduct a thorough background check on every potential employee. However, nothing showed up on Priode's background check.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools says, Priode worked for the district for two school years from 06 to 08.  He was given a thorough back ground check as well.  No red flags popped up.  Then CMS tells me Priode simply left a year ago for a new job.   The job was the one at Sullivan Middle School.

CMPD contacted the school district's personnel department this morning to let them about the case.

Rock Hill School District tells me CMPD notified them today of the arrest of Priode.  CMPD says they didn't inform them sooner because they don't notify employers about situations like this until they have probable cause to proceed with the case.

Rock Hill Police says they were never informed of any current investigation on Priode.

(Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools released the following statement Thursday afternoon.)

South Mecklenburg High School

This morning, a former South Meck band teacher, Richard Priode, was arrested on one felony count of taking indecent liberties with a minor. The alleged incident happened during the 2007-2008 school year. Priode no longer works at South Meck and has not worked at the school or at any CMS school this year.

The CMS Police Department has been working with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on the investigation. The principal sent a Connect-ED message to parents.