Former Pender County Schools bus driver arrested on sexual harassment charges

PENDER COUNTY – A Burgaw man has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two students while employed by Pender County Schools, according to the sheriff’s office.

Austin Lee Kelly, 32, was charged with two counts of sexual battery. PCSO said the incidents occurred while Kelly was a bus driver for the school district.

“These allegations stemmed from an initial investigation into violations of school employment policies by administrators at a Pender County high school,” a news release said.

The school administration handed over the results to the school safety officer and filed a criminal complaint for further investigation.

According to the district, Kelly drove to Heide Trask High School but was not employed at the time of his arrest. Kelly began his career with the schools in March 2023 and was released on May 9, 2024.

“We understand that this news may cause concern in our community, and we want to reassure parents, students and staff that the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority,” spokesman Bob Fankboner wrote in a media release Friday Afternoon. “Pender County Schools is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of our students.”

The sheriff’s office is asking the public to report information related to the investigation by calling 910-259-1212 or 910-259-1515.

“The Pender County Sheriff’s Office is committed to reminding parents and guardians of minors to strictly monitor their children’s access to online activities, including online social media apps and gaming systems,” it said in a statement. “Parents should encourage their children to report suspicious behavior when using social media and gaming systems.”

The school district said it continues to work with officials on the case.

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