News-Record.com

GREENSBORO — Guilford County Schools has begun an internal investigation into two former educators who resigned this week after being charged with using a computer to solicit children for sex.

A third teacher from Hendersonville also was charged in the undercover sting, Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said.

“We take these kinds of charges — and even a hint of these kinds of allegations — very seriously,” said Lekan Oguntoyinbo, a school district spokesman.

“The well-being of our children is paramount in what we do here.”

He was not sure how long the district investigation would take or what, if any, information would be publicly disclosed at the end.

Sheriff’s deputies this week arrested David Brian Seus, a former teacher assistant at Western Guilford High School, and Kevin Devahl Samuel, a former math teacher for exceptional children at the High School Ahead Academy.

Oguntoyinbo said he couldn’t release further details of the district’s investigation, which he said was initiated solely in reaction to the recent charges.

There is no indication at this point that any of the men engaged in inappropriate activity with students, Barnes said.

A search of their personal computers is being conducted, he said.

Seus, 30, of 4508 Garden Club St., High Point, was hired by the district in November 2006, school records show. He is listed on Western’s Web site as a lacrosse coach.

He was released on a $5,000 bond.

Samuel, 46, of 2712 Glasshouse Road, Jamestown, had been with the district since August 2000. He remains in jail on a $10,000 bond.

The third man, David Frank Pace of Hendersonville, is a career and technical education teacher at North Henderson High School in Henderson County, according to the school’s Web site.

Pace, 57, taught for 15 years, Barnes said. Pace was arrested in Buncombe County and is being held in jail there on a $190,000 bond, Barnes said. He said further charges may be pending in that case.

In each case, police say the men initiated sexually explicit conversations with an undercover deputy posing as a 13- or 14-year-old, according to Barnes. Pace and Seus arranged to meet with the undercover agent and traveled to the meeting place, Barnes said.

He said the men engaged in simultaneous online conversations with other individuals while “chatting” with the undercover agents and had described what they had done with other children.

Barnes said that “caused us great concern because they’re in the public school system.”

The undercover operation was not targeting teachers, Barnes said.

“To come up with three teachers in a short period of time was a little unusual,” he said.

The sheriff encouraged any children who may have been contacted by anyone online in such a manner to contact authorities.

He also warned online predators that law enforcement will continue these types of operations.

“I want this stopped,” Barnes said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com