A substitute teacher at St. Matthews K‑8 is facing a stack of criminal charges after several second‑grade students told school officials she threatened to shoot them, cursed in class and forced kids to stand for long periods, according to court records. What started as a complaint in the principal’s office quickly turned into a police investigation and a court appearance this week.
Dejuan Antoinette Fludd, 71, has been charged with 18 counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk. A judge set a $180,000 personal‑recognizance bond and ordered her to wear an ankle monitor and have no contact with the children’s families. She appeared in court for a bond hearing on Friday, with attorneys and parents outlining the toll on students, according to reporting and court documents reviewed by WCCB Charlotte.
What the warrants allege
Warrants and an incident report say the case began when a second‑grader told the principal that a substitute teacher had ordered the class to stand until they were dismissed and used profanity in front of them. Multiple students later reported that she had made violent comments, including, "I would shoot you if I could" and talk of "lighting them up," according to reporting by The State.
Parents describe the aftermath
Parents told the court their children came home rattled, with one child reportedly saying, "Mommy, my teacher said she wanted to shoot me," during the bond hearing. Attorney Justin Bamberg, who represents several families, said the students may need counseling and other support in the wake of the allegations, according to WIS.
District response and hiring questions
The Calhoun County School District said it contacted law enforcement as soon as staff learned of the accusations last Wednesday and that it is working with investigators, according to a statement provided to FOX Carolina. Some parents are now pressing the district on how Fludd was cleared to work in classrooms and raising broader concerns about how substitute teachers are vetted.
Criminal process ahead
Court documents state that Fludd acknowledged making some of the remarks but told investigators she was "playing," and that she later turned herself in. Local reporting notes she faces multiple counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk and could be sentenced to prison if she is convicted, although any penalties will depend on how the case is prosecuted and what the courts decide.
Authorities and district officials say they will release more information as the case moves through the legal system, and the school is working to coordinate support for affected students. "Every student deserves to feel safe at school," Justin Bamberg told WCCB Charlotte.
