Maintenance supervisor at NC community college charged in on-campus student sex assault
A maintenance supervisor at a North Carolina community college was arrested in connection with an on-campus sexual assault and stalking of a high school student enrolled in an early college program, school officials said Tuesday.
The student reported being assaulted at Mitchell Community College in downtown Statesville, according to a news release by the Iredell-Statesville Schools.
Alexander County sheriff’s investigators took John Phillip Barkley of Stony Point into custody on charges of indecent liberties with a student, sexual battery, stalking and assault on a female.
The college placed Barkley on administrative leave as soon as campus officials learned of the incident, according to the Iredell-Statesville Schools. Barkley has been a grounds maintenance supervisor at the community college for 10 years, officials said.
“We take the safety of our students very seriously,” Iredell-Statesville Superintendent Jeff James said in the release. “We appreciate the swift work” of Statesville Police Chief David Addison and his officers.
In a release, President Tim Brewer said the community college’s top priority is student safety.
“We also appreciate the swift action of the Statesville Police Department,” Brewer said in the release.
This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 6:50 PM.