news-record.com

GREENSBORO - A former Guilford County teacher charged with having sex with a student was investigated twice previously by the school system, but school officials found no evidence of wrongdoing.

A spokesman for Guilford County Schools confirmed Wednesday that in the past year, the district's Human Resources Department investigated Leanne Macklin, 26, a former drama teacher at Weaver Academy, after allegations of inappropriate conduct with a student.

Macklin was charged last week with five felony counts of sexual activity with a student by a teacher. Police have said the incidents involved a 17-year-old male student at Weaver.

"When we heard reports of inappropriate conduct in the fall and earlier this year, Human Resources investigated twice but could not find any evidence," said Lekan Oguntoyinbo, a school spokesman.

"The caveat is that none of the alleged incidents took place on any of our properties,'' he said. "Police went to her home, but we didn't have that authority."

Oguntoyinbo said it was his understanding that the school system's investigation centered around misconduct with the same student involved in the police investigation.

Police were not involved in the school system's investigation, he said.

Oguntoyinbo said the school system's investigation centered around misconduct involving the same Weaver student as the police investigation.

The News & Record does not name victims of sexual assault.
According to court documents, police began their investigation of Macklin after the student's parents expressed concerns over an inappropriate relationship on July 2.

Their concerns centered on phone records that showed "a large volume of calls" between Macklin and the student - some late at night - and letters believed to be written by Macklin to the student.

The letters included quotes such as "I was doomed from the moment I met you" and "XOXO I love you, hugs and kisses, be mine." One of the letters makes reference to the Kama Sutra and sexual positions, according to a search warrant application.

Investigators interviewed the student and he said Macklin wrote the letters to him. The student told investigators he had oral and vaginal sex with Macklin three to five times at her apartment, according to court documents.

According to court documents, the student's parents believe the relationship started in December 2006, although charges were filed for five incidents between July and November 2007.

Macklin was arrested July 23 and was released after posting a $25,000 bond. She resigned from the school system in June.

A phone number listed for Macklin in court documents has been disconnected. Other attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful. She is scheduled to appear in court in late August.

Police have said their investigation of the case is ongoing and more charges are possible.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com