HobbsDailyReport.com
BASS
NEWTON – A former Fred T. Foard High football player who now teaches at his alma mater has been charged with one count of statutory rape and one count of a sexual offense with a student.
Jeb Stuart Bass, who played primarily wide receiver on Foard’s varsity football teams in 2005 and 2006 (he graduated in 2007), made his first court appearance in Catawba County on Tuesday. At that appearance, his bond was increased to $75,000 after the district attorney’s office asked a judge to increase it to $100,000.
Bass, who has worked as an assistant coach for boys’ basketball and for football at Foard, teaches history there.
As of 7 p.m. on Tuesday, online records of those jailed in Catawba County did not indicate that Bass was incarcerated.
Here is the entirety of a press release regarding Bass, issued on Tuesday morning by the Catawba County Schools:
On Monday, May 15, 2017 investigators of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Division arrested Jeb Stuart Bass of Conley Street in Newton on one (1) count of Statutory Rape and one (1) count of Sexual Offense with a Student.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Department and Catawba County Schools’ administration have worked closely throughout this investigation which is still ongoing.
Catawba County Schools originally contracted with Bass to teach one (1) social studies class for two (2) hours a day from August 25, 2014, through January 27, 2015 at Fred T. Foard High School.
On January 28, 2015, Bass was hired as a full-time social studies teacher at Fred T. Foard High School and has remained in that position until May 15, 2017. In addition to his teaching duties at Foard, Bass served as an assistant boys’ basketball coach and assistant football coach.
On May 15, 2017, the superintendent of Catawba County Schools, Dr. Matthew Stover, suspended Bass with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. As soon as possible, Dr. Stover will be notifying Bass, as required by N.C. state law, that he intends to recommend to the Catawba County Board of Education that Bass be dismissed and suspended without pay until such time as the board rules on Dr. Stover’s recommendation.
Catawba County Board of Education’s policies prohibit any form of sexual misconduct and interaction between students and employees. The Board would like to remind all students to be ever vigilant in immediately reporting any form of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment to their parents and administrators.