Chatham County school teacher charged with child exploitation, NC SBI says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Siler City teacher Christopher Rex arrested on 10 counts of child sexual exploitation.
- SBI opened probe after a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTip.
- Rex held without bail at Orange County Detention Center; first court date Feb. 16, 2026.
A Siler City teacher was charged Friday with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation announced.
SBI agents, with help from the Carrboro Police Department, arrested Christopher James Rex, 40, at his Carrboro home, the SBI said in a news release.
Rex works at ONE Academy, a small, public, alternative school serving grades 6-12 in Siler City. He is being held at the Orange County Detention Center without bail.
The SBI said it began its investigation after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Rex is accused of duplicating photos and videos depicting minors engaged in sexual activity, court records show. The SBI did not state if Rex is accused of exploiting any of his students.
School system responds
In a Friday afternoon statement, Chatham County Schools said Rex has been placed on mandatory leave without pay in accordance with Chatham County School Board policy . The district said based on the information it has received from the SBI, no Chatham County Schools students are involved in Rex’s charges.
“We are deeply concerned by this development,” the statement read. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation.”
Rex’s first court appearance is set for Monday, Feb. 16.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM.
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