The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department apprehended 26-year-old educator Gabriela Neufeld on Wednesday, accusing her of engaging in s*xual activity with an 18-year-old student with her photos viral on Instagram
The alleged incidents, occurring at least five times since October 2023, came to light when the student’s mother, discovering them in the act, promptly contacted law enforcement.
Who is Gabriela Neufeld South Mecklenburg High School teacher as her photos go viral on Instagram
Gabriela Cartaya-Neufeld, the CMS teacher arrested and charged with 5 counts of having sex with a student faced a judge this afternoon.
New details were discussed. @wsoctv
A thread: pic.twitter.com/IWxBanLYNP
— Hunter Sáenz (@Hunt_Saenz) November 30, 2023
BREAKING: A judge ruled South Meck teacher Gabriela Neufeld be put on electronic monitoring & have no contact w/ the student she is accused of having sex with.
The state special victims unit said the student’s mom found her son having sex with his teacher in a car @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/MXG4SDsi8t
— Caroline Hicks WBTV (@CarolineHicksTV) November 30, 2023
Despite attempts by news outlets to obtain a response from Neufeld regarding the allegations, there was no active reply. Subsequent to her arrest, it was reported by WCNC that Neufeld resigned from her position.
The troubling accusations against the South Mecklenburg High School teacher, involved in an alleged inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old student, have garnered attention.
While the student’s identity remains undisclosed, reports from WBTV suggest that the school was aware of rumors surrounding the purported teacher-student connection.
Prosecutors detailed that the student’s mother became aware of the rumors on Thanksgiving, further fueling her suspicions when her son missed a rugby practice.
Mother Tracked Son
Using the Life360 app, she tracked his location to Park Road Park in south Charlotte, where she discovered the illicit engagement with Neufeld in a car. The mother documented the vehicle’s license plate and promptly contacted 911.
Following the arrest, an unsecured bond of $75,000 was set, subsequently posted for Neufeld’s release. However, the judge imposed restrictions, including electronic monitoring and no contact with the student. Neufeld, before her release, was booked into the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.
On November 29, school authorities suspended her with pay, and she resigned shortly after. Originally from Boone, North Carolina, Gabriela Neufeld, a graduate of Appalachian State University, was reported by WCNC to have taught biology and AP biology to ninth to twelfth-grade students at the school.
Brad Smith, a managing member of Arnold and Smith PLLC, expressed the uniqueness of the case, highlighting that while an 18-year-old is of the age of consent, engaging in a s*xual relationship with a teenager could still be considered a felony.
Neufeld faces a Class G felony charge, potentially carrying a maximum sentence of around 47 months. However, considerations regarding her lack of prior criminal record may influence the sentencing outcome if proven guilty in the current case.