SC teacher and coach at Rock Hill schools arrested on child sex exploitation charges
A South Carolina teacher and coach at Rock Hill schools was arrested on five charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the York County Sheriff’s Office.
York County deputies took Douglas Melvin MacAlpine, 37, of York, into custody and booked him shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, the sheriff’s office said. He remained at the York County jail at the Moss Justice Center after his arrest pending a first court appearance, online jail records show.
MacAlpine is a teacher at Castle Heights Middle School and the boys and girls track coach at Rock Hill High School, according to the statement from the school district. He was placed on administrative leave, the district said.
Trent Faris, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said the charges don’t involve any Rock Hill district students, which the school district confirmed in a statement.
MacAlpine allegedly uploaded video files online that showed children as young as age 9, according to arrest warrants obtained by The Herald.
Under South Carolina law, second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor involves allegations of material that “contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity or appearing in a state of sexually explicit nudity.”
The charges carry two to 10 years for a conviction for each offense, state law shows.
The full statement from the district said:
“Today, Castle Heights Middle School teacher Doug MacAlpine was taken into custody by law enforcement. MacAlpine is also the boys and girls track coach at Rock Hill High School. He is now on administrative leave.
While we understand there may be concerns, we want to reassure our community that no students were involved in this situation, and at no time was the safety of our students or staff at risk. The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities as they handle this matter.
Rock Hill Schools holds all employees to the highest professional and ethical standards. We expect all staff members to serve as role models and uphold the trust placed in them by our students, families, and community. Any actions that compromise that trust are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with district policies and legal guidelines.
We understand incidents like this can be unsettling; however, we are committed to supporting our staff and students at Castle Heights and Rock Hill High. As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, we are unable to provide further details. We appreciate the continued support of our school community as we remain committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all students.”
