Dec. 18. A private school teacher who was placed on leave back in April has been charged with sex crimes involving a student. Tyler Dean Melton, who lives in Cornelius, was charged with sexual activity with a student and indecent liberties with a student on Dec. 15.

He turned himself in to the Mecklenburg County Jail.

A new law that went into effect Dec.1 raises the penalty for education employees and teachers charged with those crimes, according to the LL1885 NC education/teachers blog.

Tyler Dean Melton | Meck County Jail

Session Law 2023-128 raises the penalties for taking indecent liberties with a student or for sexual activity with a student from a Class I (3-12 months in prison) to a Class G felony (8-31 months in prison).

Background

Melton, 26, taught at SouthLake Christian Academy. He was issued a $10,000 secured bond and released.

Melton was hired in August 2021. He resigned on April 29, 2023, according to LL1885.

A day before he had been placed on leave while the school investigated accusations of inappropriate contact with a student while off campus.

Police statement

The Cornelius Police Department began their investigation in August. In a press release Friday, Cornelius Police said: “After a thorough investigation, on December 15, 2023, detectives were able to obtain warrants on Tyler Dean Melton, DOB 4/2/1997, for Felony Sexual Acts with a Student and Indecent Liberties with a Student.”