Fort Mill dance instructor accused of sexually assaulting minor

A longtime Fort Mill dance program is shuttered at least temporarily after its owner was charged in North Carolina with sexually assaulting a minor, according to records and a recreation center official.

Steven Edgar “Eddie” Mabry, 51, was released late Friday from the Mecklenburg County jail after posting $15,000 bond on charges of statutory rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, North Carolina jail records show.

Mabry has operated a dance studio in Fort Mill for about 20 years. Although he does not work for the Leroy Springs recreation center or the Town of Fort Mill, the complex helps to promote his program, which rents two studios and other space at the center.

Recreation officials immediately suspended the program. The arrest throws the future of recitals for hundreds of students into limbo after months of practice.

The alleged victim, now an adult, told police the assaults happened seven years ago at Mabry’s home in Huntersville, N.C., when the victim was 14. The alleged victim started dance classes with Mabry at age 7 and later worked for him at the Fort Mill dance studio.

Calls to Mabry’s mobile phone number – listed on the company website as the studio mobile phone number – were not returned Saturday.

Mabry’s lawyer, George Laughrun, said Mabry “adamantly denies the charges” brought by the male former student “and was shocked when the police came to arrest him. He’s a well-respected member of the dance and choreography community.”

Mabry operates Eddie Mabry Talent at the Leroy Springs complex in Fort Mill. The town leases the center from the nonprofit Leroy Springs & Co., which supports recreation and education activities in Fort Mill and Chester and Lancaster counties.

Tim Patterson, president and CEO of Leroy Springs & Co., sent an email Friday to complex members saying that Mabry’s program was “suspended” as soon as complex officials heard about the arrest.

“With an arrest of this nature, we had to take action immediately,” Patterson said Saturday. “We have to protect the safety of our members.”

In the email Friday, Patterson wrote, “This morning, we were made aware that Eddie Mabry, who has rented space to conduct programming at the Recreation Complex, has been charged in Mecklenburg County with a serious offense related to a minor. As a result, we have suspended the Eddie Mabry program, and will work with authorities to investigate the situation.”

“We are shocked by the allegations and express our sympathy and support for the victim and their family. We want to assure you that the safety of our members and guests is our top priority, and we will provide additional information as it becomes available.”

Patterson said he has not yet spoken to Mabry but the complex is looking at its options.

“We’re just trying to find out as much as we can, look at the legal stuff and we’ll spend the next couple of days planning the next steps forward,” he said.

The website for Eddie Mabry Talent describes Mabry as the owner, director and choreographer. His biography on his studio’s website said he’s been an adjunct faculty member at Winthrop University and UNC Charlotte and is in his 13th year as a guest artist with Northwest School of the Arts.

This story was originally published March 28, 2015 at 2:17 PM with the headline "Fort Mill dance instructor accused of sexually assaulting minor."