Brunswick teacher charged with sex acts with a child

Reported by Scott Saxton email

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The Brunswick County Sheriff's Department has charged a local school teacher with sex acts with a student.

According to Lt. Marty Folding, 39-year-old Leah Shipman from Leland was charged with two counts of sexual acts by a teacher, two counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of statutory rape.

Authorities say the victim was 15 years old at the time of the incidents, some of which date back to April 2009.

Brunswick County Sheriff John Ingram said the school acted fast in contacting authorities.

"It was a very quick response from the school system," said Ingram.  "As soon as they were made aware of this situation they notified us immediately and worked with us very closely in this matter to bring this to an end fairly quickly."

Ingram said he does not believe more than one student was involved.

Shipman is a Transitional Curriculum teacher at Brunswick County Academy.  Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Katie McGee said in a written statement that the school system will continue to work with the sheriff's department on this investigation.

"She is suspended from the Brunswick County Schools.  Because of the ongoing investigation and laws governing personnel law, I am unable to make any additional comments," Dr. McGee wrote.

Records indicate Shipman has been a teacher in the school system since 2002.  She started at the academy in 2008.

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