Former Wake high school teacher charged with assaulting students with disabilities

A now-former Wake County high school special-education teacher has been charged with assaulting two students with disabilities.

James Rencher III of Raleigh faces 12 counts of assault on an individual with a disability, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred in 2022 when Rencher taught at East Wake High School in Wendell.

The school district says Rencher no longer works for the Wake County Public School System.

The Sheriff’s Office said it received a report from the district about the alleged assaults and that Rencher was charged after a thorough investigation and consultation with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.

‘Forcibly pushing the victim’

According to the arrest warrants, Rencher assaulted the two students by:

▪ Placing his arms on the student’s ankles to forcibly make him take steps against his will to walk down the stairs.

▪ Forcibly pushing the victim’s head forward as he entered the restroom.

▪ Using his hands to tighten a student’s belt “to absolute state of discomfort.”

▪ Gripping the student’s head with the palm of his hand “forcing the victim against his will to look down at his school assignment.”

▪ Using his hand to “forcibly grab the victim’s shirt jerking him backwards by the neck.”

▪ Using both of his hands “with excessive force to push the victim into the kitchen area.”

▪ Kicking a yoga ball “from underneath the victim while sitting,” which caused the student to fall to the floor.

▪ Using his hands to “forcibly push the victim as he sat on the yoga ball causing him to fall to the floor.”

Rencher turned himself in Friday and is being held at the Wake County jail on $150,000 bail.

Court documents say the bail is higher than normal “due to the nature of the offenses conducted by the defendant knowingly that these victims are incapable with the ability to defend themselves.”.

Several teachers arrested this year

According to district records, Rencher was hired in July 2019. He resigned in April of this year.

In a statement Friday, the school district said it has cooperated fully with law enforcement’s investigation.

“While the school system cannot comment on the scope of any particular personnel matter, it is our practice to review allegations that arise during the course of an investigation,” according to the district. “We cannot comment on specific reports made to law enforcement which would be considered confidential student and personnel information.”

WRAL, which reported the allegations first, maintains WCPSS employees failed to report the allegations to law enforcement.

In its statement, WCPSS said it is the school system’s expectation that allegations of abuse will be reported to law enforcement as required by law.

“Creating and maintaining a safe environment for students is our utmost priority, and we recognize those efforts are essential to building trust with the families of our students,” according to the statement “The school system continually reviews its practices to consider how its processes and training can be improved in support of this priority.”

Rencher is among several Wake County special-education teachers or teacher assistants who’ve been charged this school year with assaulting students.

This story was originally published June 28, 2024 at 10:47 AM.