Garner: Aversboro Elementary teacher charged with misdemeanor child abuse

A teacher at Aversboro Elementary School in Garner was arrested Thursday on three misdemeanor charges, including child abuse, according to Garner police warrants reported by CBS 17.

Eric John Ames, 39, is charged with misdemeanor child abuse, disorderly conduct at a school and simple possession of marijuana, CBS 17 reported, citing the warrants. Court records show a $6,000 secured bond and a Wake County District Court date of Oct. 21, the station said.

Being charged with a crime does not mean a person is guilty. Ames is presumed innocent unless he is proven guilty in court. We could not find a public statement from Ames or from a lawyer for him.

We are not naming any students.

Who Ames is, and what the school lists

The Wake County Public School System's public directory for Aversboro Elementary lists Eric Ames as a teacher there. The listed title is Teacher - Program Enhancement.

CBS 17, citing the Garner police warrants, described him as a first-grade teacher. The directory does not list him as a first-grade classroom teacher. We have not seen the warrants ourselves, so we are reporting both descriptions.

Aversboro Elementary is a Wake County public school in Garner. As of Friday morning, Oct. 9, the school's news page and the district news page had no statement about the arrest. We also did not see any statement from the Garner Police Department.

What the warrants allege

According to CBS 17's account of the warrants:

• The child-abuse charge alleges Ames was under the influence of suspected alcohol and THC while watching over more than one child.
• The disorderly-conduct charge alleges he was under the influence while teaching.
• The possession charge is for marijuana. The station said the warrant does not list an amount.

Those are allegations in charging papers. They have not been proven in court. Officials have not said whether any child was physically hurt.

The charges

CBS 17 lists three misdemeanors:

• Misdemeanor child abuse
• Disorderly conduct at a school
• Simple possession of marijuana

Under North Carolina law, misdemeanor child abuse is a Class A1 misdemeanor when a person who is caring for or supervising a child younger than 16 creates or allows a substantial risk of physical injury, among other conduct. Disorderly conduct that disrupts teaching or school order is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

On the drug charge, CBS 17 said the warrant called it simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance and identified the substance as marijuana. Wake County jail listings for the same Thursday booking describe the charge as simple possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance. North Carolina's controlled-substance schedule lists marijuana as Schedule VI, not Schedule IV. We have not seen the warrant paper, so we are noting that conflict instead of choosing one label as settled.

What happens next

Ames is due in Wake County District Court on Oct. 21, according to court records cited by CBS 17.

WCPSS has not said whether Ames is still employed, on leave or no longer working at the school. The district also has not said what families were told, if anything, about classroom coverage.

We will update this story when Garner police, WCPSS or the courts release more information. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.