CMS high school teacher in court after arrest for sexual activity with student
By WBTV Web Staff and Caroline Hicks
Published: Nov. 30, 2023 at 5:15 AM CST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A science teacher at South Mecklenburg High School was arrested after she allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a student, police said.
Gabriela Neufeld, 26, was arrested by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department on Wednesday.
Court records state that Neufeld and an 18-year-old student engaged in “intercourse or a sexual act” at least five times since Oct. 18.
“We take this matter seriously,” South Meck Principal Marc Angerer said in a message to families. “We share your concerns regarding this situation. The safety and security of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us all, and while this is a troubling situation, it is being managed by law enforcement.”
Neufeld is charged with five counts of felony sexual activity with a student. She was released from jail Thursday morning on a $75,000 unsecured bond.
She faced a judge in her first court appearance Thursday afternoon, where she requested a public defender to represent her.
She was accompanied by her family. A group of her students was also seen in court.
Prosecutors asked for the judge to reconsider Neufeld’s bond conditions, stating that the student’s mother had reason to believe she and her son might leave the area together. She said her son has mentioned leaving their home on several occasions.
The student’s mother was present for the court appearance via WebEx.
Prosecutors said his mother found out about the relationship on Thanksgiving. They said she tracked his phone and noticed he was not at rugby practice on Wednesday, so she followed him to his location. That’s when prosecutors say she saw him having sex with his teacher in a car at Park Road Park in south Charlotte and called police.
A judge ruled that Neufeld be put on electronic monitoring and have no contact with the student she is accused of having sex with.
Neufeld did not respond to our questions after exiting the courthouse.
Prosecutors also stated that South Mecklenburg High School was aware of rumors surrounding Neufeld and the student, and that the school addressed this with each of them.
WBTV contacted CMS for comment on this and a spokesperson said the district “cannot speak to any matters regarding personnel issues.”
Neufeld faces a Class G felony with a maximum sentence of 47 months, although without a prior criminal record, she would not face the maximum time.
WBTV spoke with attorney Brad Smith, a managing member of Arnold and Smith PLLC, about the law surrounding sex with a student in North Carolina.
“It’s unusual in the sense that the normal sexual statutory offenses all deal with students or kids that are under the age of 16,” Smith said. “Whereas the exception to this is that you can be at the age of consent which an 18-year-old is, but if you have a sexual relationship with that person as a teenager then you’re committing a felony.”
According to CMS, Neufeld was suspended with pay as of Nov. 29. A final decision on her employment status must go before the school board.
