Former teacher’s assistant arrested on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor

MONROE, N.C. — A former teacher’s assistant at Sun Valley High School in Monroe was arrested on an outstanding warrant related to sexual misconduct with a minor, the Union County Sheriff’s Office stated Wednesday in a news release.

Jalen Witherspoon, 28, of Indian Trail, was arrested Wednesday.

The investigation began early this month after Witherspoon was “accused of sexual misconduct with an underage student and was removed from his position at the school,” the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives have charged Witherspoon with two counts of a statutory sexual offense, two counts of sexual activity with a student, and three counts of indecent liberties with a child.

Witherspoon was being processed into the Union County jail Wednesday night. The conditions of his release have not yet been set.

“The Union County Sheriff’s Office began our investigation into this matter the moment we were notified of the allegations being made by the victim,” Sheriff Eddie Cathey said.

“The defendant was removed from his position of authority swiftly by the Union County Public School system and we will continue our investigation until all leads have been addressed,” he added.

The Sun Valley High principal sent a letter to parents saying they will provide counselors for students on Thursday and Friday, but some parents are questioning how Witherspoon was able to get a job at the school in the first place. He was arrested in 2018 on drug charges in a case that was highly publicized at the time by the sheriff’s office.

“It’s just devastating, the fact that, how we know they let someone work in the school like that,” said parent Manda Winchester.

“How could he get a job with that type of background?” she asked.

Curtis looked into those charges, and it appears they may have been dropped. But Winchester still has a lot of questions.

“Has it happened to multiple girls, is he the only in the school with that type of background?” she asked.

A district spokesperson told Curtis a background check has been conducted on Witherspoon, and he was employed at Sun Valley High from August 2021 until Feb. 15, 2023.

Winchester is upset the school didn’t tell parents sooner. She said up until now, they had just heard rumors of Witherspoon having inappropriate relationships with students.

“I understand an investigation goes on, but we should have been notified about this situation before now, involving kids like this,” she said.

The investigation is ongoing. Call the Union County Sheriff’s Office if you have information.

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