According to Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Records, a 36-year-old Black Male PE Teacher, Anthony Marqui Neal, was arrested at Washington Elementary School TODAY, Wednesday, February 14, 2024, in front of an undisclosed number of Washington Elementary School students. Also, according to CCSO records, Mr. Neal was charged with:
- First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ($100,000 Bond)
- Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ($50,000 Bond)
- Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ($0 Bond)
Also, According to trusted sources, CCS School Board Members Robert Queen, Rodney Fitch, and Joel Shores, as well as CCS Superintendent Stephen Fisher knew about an ongoing CCSO investigation sometime on or before this past Monday but kept the information secret from other CCS Board members who were present at the CCS School Board Meeting this past Monday as well as the WeRCC School Board Candidates Forum this past Tuesday.
Also note that the CCS School Board Meeting this past Monday included a Closed Session where persons attending that Closed Session have reported that this investigation/impending arrest of Teacher Anthony Neal WAS NOT announced, discussed, or even mentioned.
Editor’s Note: State Law would have required School Board Members and others attending Closed Sessions to NOT release information that WAS legally discussed in Closed Session per NC Open Meeting laws. However, there is NO lawful requirement to remain silent about what WAS NOT discussed in that Closed session. Indeed, it is reported that those school board members who were not included in the knowledge of this important information are !00% PO’d. And rightly so.
Also, it certainly seems that CCS Superintendent Stephen Fisher is subject to be immediately fired on the spot, for cause, and without severance pay, in situations such as this. An unlawful act which voids any employment contract that Fisher might have with Cleveland County Schools.
