CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A former middle school principal now facing serious child sex abuse charges in Missouri once worked for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
According to law enforcement and legal representatives, Cedric Gerald, 48, who most recently served as a principal at Westview Middle School in the Riverview Gardens School District in St. Louis County, has been charged with multiple crimes, including sexual trafficking of a child, sexual exploitation of a minor, and possession of child pornography.
At least four Westview Middle students have come forward, alleging Gerald engaged in inappropriate and illegal behavior, including explicit FaceTime calls, sexual contact at school, and harassment. St. Louis County Police said Gerald admitted to several of the accusations.
Medic: 12 injured in reported assault at southwest Charlotte McDonald’sBefore working in Missouri, Gerald spent at least 13 years with CMS as a teacher and literacy coach. He later held positions in other districts in North Carolina and Missouri.
According to CMS records, Gerald was hired in August 2000 and resigned in July 2013 after working as a literacy specialist for the Northeast Learning Community. His CMS history:
Teacher, 9-12 English at Olympic High School, Aug. 2000 English Academic Content Coach for the Instructional Services Department, August 2006 Teacher, 9-12 English at Cato Middle College High School, August 2007 Teacher, 9-12 English at West Mecklenburg High School, January 2007 Literacy Coach for the West Learning Community, November 2010 Title 1 Literacy Specialist for the Northeast Learning Community, July 2012 Resigned from CMS, July 2013No disciplinary action was listed in his history with the school district. In response to questions about Gerald’s history, CMS issued this statement:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools follows standard hiring procedures. Positions are posted, interviews are conducted, and recommendations to hire are made. All new hires go through a criminal background check, drug test, and fingerprints through the Standard Bureau of Investigation.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsTwo law firms, identified as Simon Law and the O’Brien Law Firm, are now representing at least six victims from multiple school districts. They’re encouraging others who may have been harmed, including outside Missouri, to come forward.
“We have information that his abuse spans more than one school district,” Boyd said in a written statement, released on Tuesday. “That’s why we are investigating Riverview Gardens School District’s practices, and how they failed to take proactive and reactive measures to protect students.”
City of York official on administrative leave, police lieutenant resigns after allegedly throwing eggs at vehicles and childrenInvestigators believe Gerald’s abuse could span several years and multiple states. Anyone with information is urged to contact St. Louis County Police at 314-615-5400.
This is a Developing Story. Check back for updates
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