A now-released school resource officer at North Rowan Elementary School has been charged after deputies said that he was found to be to be in possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to a release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation began after they received notice from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Oct. 29 that suggested a resident was in possession of child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, detectives reportedly determined that Cleveland resident Austin Tyler Moore, 35, was the suspect.
At the time, Moore was a school resource officer for the Spencer Police Department, serving at North Rowan Elementary School.
“Administrators of the Spencer Police Department and Rowan-Salisbury School System were notified of the investigation by detectives the day it was initiated, and Moore was removed from his duty assignment the same day,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release.
According to a statement from the Town of Spencer, Moore was removed from his assignment at North Rowan Elementary School after they learned of the allegations and his employment was terminated on Nov. 12 after an internal investigation.
“The Town of Spencer expects all staff to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with organizational values and policies at all times, including being lawful citizens. The town organization overall, and the police department specifically, believes that our public integrity and trust are at the forefront of our ability to serve and have no tolerance for the type of conduct that is being alleged,” wrote the town in the statement.
The town stated that Corporal A. Niblock, who had previously served as the school resource officer at North Rowan Elementary School, was assigned to cover the role after Moore was removed.
Detectives executed a search warrant on Moore’s school office, his personal residence and electronic devices and accounts, according to the release, and found evidence that supported charging him with four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
“No evidence was found to suggest that any student at North Rowan Elementary School or any other Rowan-Salisbury School System school was victimized,” wrote the sheriff’s office in the release.
Moore was arrested on Dec. 17 and is being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $100,000 bond.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools Director of Marketing and Communications Michelle Shue released the following statement regarding the investigation:
“Rowan-Salisbury Schools was made aware of an investigation involving a Spencer Police Officer who was assigned as a school resource officer at North Rowan Elementary. Upon notification of the investigation, the officer was removed from his assignment at the school by police department leadership. The investigation found no evidence that any student at North Rowan Elementary School or any other Rowan-Salisbury School System school was victimized.”
