The Sullivan Middle School assistant principal facing felony charges of sexual exploitation of a child is out on bond, according to Mecklenburg County’s Office of the Sheriff’s website.
Darin Pearson, 32, of Charlotte, was charged Friday with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release.
Jail records show Pearson bonded out and was released just after 10 p.m., Friday.
His bond amount is unclear. He is scheduled to appear in court in Charlotte on Monday.
Pearson is currently on paid administrative leave as Sullivan Middle School’s assistant principal.
He’s worked in Rock Hill School District 3 for more than 10 years as an administrator and teacher.
Parents and students were notified of the assistant principal’s arrest on Friday.
Police arrested Pearson after the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force told Charlotte officials that the assistant principal was involved in trading photographs depicting child pornography, according to a police news release.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and cyber crimes and youth detectives with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police searched Pearson’s home and seized electronic devices, the release states.
Charlotte police officials say they found evidence of child pornography on Pearson’s electronics in his home.
Pearson has no prior criminal charges in South Carolina, according to a SLED background check.
Anna Douglas • 803-329-4068
