A 25-year-old Henderson County Public Schools employee is facing serious sex crime charges after deputies say he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Authorities arrested Colby Saltz without incident and booked him on criminal counts tied to the allegation. The school district says it learned of the report on June 17 and immediately ended Saltz’s employment while law enforcement continues its investigation.
Arrest, Charges and District Response
According to FOX Carolina, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office charged Saltz with a statutory sex offense with a child and a sex act with a student. In a statement posted to the district site, Henderson County Public Schools said it was notified of the allegation on June 17, cooperated with investigators and terminated Saltz, who began working for the district in August 2024 as a teacher assistant at East Henderson High School. The district described the reported conduct as “deeply concerning, unacceptable and completely inconsistent with the standards, values, and expectations of Henderson County Public Schools.”
Detention, Privacy Protections and Tip Line
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office lists the county detention center at 375 First Avenue East in Hendersonville and notes that its mobile app can be used to submit tips. Investigators have not released any identifying information about the student, citing federal privacy protections, and say the case remains active. Law enforcement is asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office through official channels.
Amid Other School Staff Investigations in North Carolina
The Henderson County arrest comes as other high-profile investigations involving school employees in North Carolina have surfaced in recent weeks. WBTV reported that a Rowan County educator was arrested at the end of May on multiple counts of sex offenses involving a student, and WPTF covered a separate case in Wake County earlier in May that also involved allegations against a teacher. Those incidents have renewed attention on how districts and police respond when accusations of misconduct by school staff emerge.
What Happens Next
Saltz’s arrest is an allegation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty as the case moves through Henderson County’s criminal courts. Henderson County Public Schools says it will continue cooperating with investigators while working to protect student privacy. This story will be updated as officials release additional information.
