This piece covers the arrest of a former Asheboro High School counselor accused of sexual contact with a student, the charges and bond conditions she faces, how the school district responded, and the legal framework shaping pretrial decisions. It walks through the timeline from the tip that prompted the arrest to the court hearing and upcoming dates while noting the counselor’s prior role with the school and the district’s statements.
A former high school counselor in North Carolina was taken into custody after police say she engaged in sexual activity with a student on campus. Authorities arrested 39-year-old Amber Elizabeth Walker after detectives said they quickly developed evidence supporting the allegation. She now faces serious felony counts tied to the alleged incident.
Walker was charged with two felony counts of sex act with a student and could face significant prison time if convicted on both counts. Prosecutors told the court they wanted her held without bond during the initial hearing. Defense attorneys argued she is not a flight risk because she lives in Guilford County with family and a young child, and they stressed that the school has already terminated her employment.
‘Asheboro City Schools is aware that a former employee of the district has been taken into custody in connection with alleged inappropriate activity.’ The district said it will cooperate with law enforcement as needed while investigators complete their work. Officials also confirmed Walker was no longer employed by the district following the arrest.
The judge applied Iryna’s Law when considering pretrial release, treating the charges as violent offenses under that statute and limiting bond options. Iryna’s Law, enacted after a high-profile killing on a commuter train, tightened pretrial release conditions in several cases and can require mental health evaluations in certain situations. Under that framework the judge set a secured bond and ordered no contact with the alleged victim.
At the hearing, Walker appeared emotional and reporters noted she was “crying throughout the hearing,” according to WFMY. Her attorney emphasized her ties to the community and family responsibilities, while prosecutors pointed to the nature of the charges in arguing for stricter pretrial terms. The court ultimately set secured bond at $50,000 and instructed her not to communicate with the student involved.
Walker had worked at Asheboro High School since early 2018, serving as a counselor and coaching the girls’ basketball team. School social media posts in past years identified her as “Coach Walker” and congratulated teams she worked with. District records show she was hired on Feb. 26, 2018, and her employment ended following the arrest.
Police say a tip led them to allege the encounter happened two days before the arrest, and detectives moved swiftly after receiving the report. Investigators indicated they “quickly developed evidence confirming the allegation” and took Walker into custody within hours. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office assisted, and the arrest prompted immediate administrative action by the school district.
Local outlets reported that Walker is scheduled to appear again in court later this month, and that law enforcement agencies involved did not immediately comment beyond the facts of the arrest. Community members and parents have been watching developments closely as the case proceeds through the legal system. The situation continues to unfold as prosecutors prepare for the next steps and the district reviews policies related to staff conduct and student safety.
