A registered sex offender was arrested at Bridgeton Elementary School in Craven County on September 11, 2026, after a school resource officer spotted him there. Gerald Andrew Hopper, 41, of New Bern, was taken into custody and charged with felony sex offender on school premises.
According to the WCTI, the Craven County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Hopper was arrested on Sept. 11 after the resource officer saw him at the school. The sheriff's office said Hopper is listed on the sex offender registry because of an out-of-state conviction for attempted sexual abuse of a child by communication.
Charge Tied to Out-of-State Conviction
The felony charge against Hopper stems directly from his registered status, which the sheriff's office linked to that prior out-of-state case. As reported by WNCT, Hopper was charged with felony sex offender on school premises following the out-of-state conviction for attempted sexual abuse of a child by communication.
Details about what led up to Hopper's presence at the elementary school, including how long he was there, have not been released. The station's report does not specify the state or date of the underlying conviction that placed him on the registry.
Hopper Released on Bond
Following his arrest, Hopper posted a $10,000 secured bond, per the same account. No further information on a court date or attorney representation has been made public at this time.
