NC Laws

Jamal Butler, past band director at Southern High School, has been charged with sexual offense for allegedly having intercourse with two 16 year old students. The story in the News and Observer is here: http://www.newsobserver.com/978/story/1405514.html

According to accounts in the e-newsletter from NCCASA, "North Carolina has one of the toughest laws on teachers, coaches and other school personnel having sex with students. Under the law, if a school employee is more than four years older than the student, having sexual relations with a student is a felony regardless of consent."

NC is not a state that is usually considered on the cutting edge. This law acknowledges the power imbalance that is inherent in a teacher/student relationship, especially when the age difference is this pronounced.