N.C. Mom Used Tracking App to Allegedly Catch Teacher Sexually Abusing Son in Car: Police

The mother noticed that her son missed sports practice on the Life360 app, a family safety location app, and tracked his location to the car

A North Carolina teacher was arrested on allegations she sexually abused a student.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a news release that South Mecklenburg High School teacher Gabriela Neufeld, 26, was allegedly discovered “engaged in sexual activity” with an 18-year-old male student on Nov. 29.

Neufeld was arrested and charged with felony sexual activity with a student by a teacher. She was held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center until she was released on bond, according to local news outlet WCNC.

During a court hearing on Thursday, prosecutors said that the 18-year-old student’s mother became aware of the alleged sexual contact over the Thanksgiving holiday after she noticed her son had missed a sports practice on the Life360 app, a family safety location app. Subsequently, she tracked his location and allegedly saw him having sexual contact with Neufeld in a parked car, according to WSOC-TV.

Related: N.C. Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse Was on House Arrest. Then She Allegedly Met with Same Student

She took photos of the car and license plate and then called police, who came to the scene and arrested Neufeld, per the outlet.

According to court documents obtained by WBTV, Neufeld and the student allegedly engaged in a sexual act at least five times since Oct. 18.

Under North Carolina state law, it is illegal for teachers and students to have sexual relations, unless the teacher is “lawfully married to the student.”

A judge ruled for Neufeld to be put on electronic monitoring and have no communication with the 18-year-old student.

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According to WCNC, Neufield was a biology and AP biology teacher for students between ninth and twelfth grade at South Mecklenburg High School. The school’s principal shared a message with families at the school, obtained by the outlet, which said that the school takes “this matter seriously.”

“We share your concerns regarding this situation,” the message said. “The safety and security of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to us all, and while this is a troubling situation, it is being managed by law enforcement.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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