NC assistant principal charged with raping students

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The assistant principal of Central Cabarrus High School is facing several charges in connection with alleged sexual contact with two students.

Investigators say 37-year-old Aaronson Franks had sex with one of the students multiple times at the end of last school year, and he had sex with another student this year — each time on school grounds.

“It happened in a part of the building that was removed where no one else had access,” said Concord Police Chief Merl Hamilton.

Concord police say one of the students is under the age of 16. The other student graduated last year.

Franks is charged with statutory rape, statutory sexual offense, sexual activity with a student by an administrator, taking indecent liberties with a student and indecent liberties with children.

“I don’t know that I can ever recall us having handled an assistant principal. It’s very unusual. It’s tragic. It’s horrible,” said Hamilton.

Police began investigating after a parent came to them with concerns last week.

Investigators are concerned there may be more victims. Franks has taught in Virginia, Florida and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. Franks taught career and technical education at John Taylor Williams Middle School from 2002 to 2005.

Franks was arrested Thursday. He was released from jail after posting $60,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court March 1.

The school system has suspended him with pay.

Franks’ bio had been removed from the Central Cabarrus High School Web site Thursday afternoon, but an earlier version of the site showed that Franks has been with the school since the 2005-2006 school year.

The Web site said Franks served as special needs administrator, attendance coordinator and 10th and 11th grade discipline.