A Cleveland County detention officer is out of a job and facing a felony charge after a grand jury indicted him on a sexual activity by a custodian count, county officials said.
David Morrow was arrested Wednesday following the indictment and later released from the county jail on a $25,000 unsecured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Cleveland County court on May 1. Morrow had worked at the county detention center since August 2019 and was fired after an internal investigation, according to county officials.
Investigation and arrest
According to WCNC, the sheriff’s office launched an internal probe after receiving information from an inmate. Investigators then took their findings to a grand jury, which returned a true bill on the sexual activity by a custodian charge.
Sheriff Alan Norman told the outlet the county will “continue to cooperate with the judicial process.” The sheriff’s office said Morrow was suspended during the investigation and formally terminated on April 22.
How deputies say it unfolded
Deputies told Fox Carolina they were alerted when an inmate reported possible misconduct involving Morrow, triggering both a criminal investigation and an internal review. The outlet reports that after deputies presented the case to a grand jury this week, an indictment followed, which led to Morrow’s arrest on Wednesday.
What the charge means under state law
Under North Carolina law, sexual activity by a custodian is defined in G.S. 14-27.31 and applies when an employee or agent of an institution engages in a sexual act with someone in their custody. It is generally classified as a Class E felony, and consent is not a defense, according to the North Carolina General Statutes. Specific penalties and any registration requirements depend on the circumstances and related convictions.
What’s next
Morrow is expected in Cleveland County court on May 1, when prosecutors are likely to address the formal charge and set any future hearing or arraignment dates. No additional information was released by authorities, Fox Carolina reported.
The county’s detention division lists its facilities and contact information on the sheriff’s website, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
