LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. -- Former Lincolnton principal Tony Worley has been arrested and charged by the Lincolnton police department with 11 crimes. Arrest warrants include 2 counts of indecent liberties with a student, 5 counts of intercourse and sexual offenses, 2 counts of solicitation indecent liberties, and 2 counts of solicitation of sexual activity.
- Tony Worley, a former Principal of Lincolnton High School, has been arrested for several counts of misconduct with students.
- Worley has been a principal for the district since 2002, he was hired as an assistant principal and he became principal in 2005.
- He resigned from his position when the investigation started.
- Worley has already posted bond and will be in court Monday.
Detectives with the Lincolnton Police Department said Tony Worley turned himself in Friday morning to the police department. He was with his attorney and a bondsman when then magistrate served him with the 11 arrest warrants.
The magistrate gave him a bond for $47,000, which Worley posted. Since the charges include felonies, Worley also went to the sheriff's office where he was processed and fingerprinted.
Spectrum News reporter Vanessa Leon first broke the story on the principal back in June, learning of a search warrant executed by the police department at Worley's Lincolnton residence.
According to that search warrant, a student from Lincolnton High School went to the central office on June 21 and told school officials of a relationship between him and Worley. The student showed several pictures, videos, and messages of sexual nature between him and Worley.
There was also communication between them on social media sites Snapchat, Grindr, and Instagram.
The Lincolnton Police Department says they have spent hours on this sensitive case. They also executed a search warrant at the principal's Lincolnton High School office, and took out a warrant with the social media site Snapchat to access Worley's account.
Police say since the investigation began, another student has also come forward.
According to the arrest warrant, Worley is not allowed to come on school property, and cannot have any contact with the students involved in the investigation.
He has a court appearance Monday.
Attempts to contact Worley and his attorney have not been successful. The Lincoln County School District said Worley voluntarily resigned the Monday following the search warrant executed at his house.
They released a statement Saturday saying:
