A former high school counselor was taken into custody on Thursday over accusations of sending inappropriate photos to multiple students.
Leslie Lambeth Bryant, 37, from North Carolina, faces charges of lewd conduct and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor due to incidents purportedly occurring in November 2025, as reported by local news.
According to the arrest documents, the students involved were from Orange High School in Hillsboro, North Carolina, where Bryant previously served as a counselor.
School officials suspended her with pay after receiving tips regarding the alleged misconduct. The sheriff’s office informed school resource officers on June 4 about the situation, according to the report.
Bryant resigned from her position on June 12, as confirmed by a school system spokesperson.
On Thursday morning, she surrendered to authorities after a warrant for her arrest was issued.
During the court hearing, prosecutors stated that Bryant had been communicating with the students via Snapchat, sharing explicit photos and videos, according to media reports.
In a statement, Orange County Schools emphasized their serious approach to student safety and welfare, mentioning that they took immediate action following the report of misconduct. They also noted that further inquiries would be directed to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since it is now a criminal matter.
As of Thursday, Bryant was being held at the Orange County Detention Center, and a judge set a secured bond at $50,000.
A newspaper reached out to both Orange County Schools and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for further information.
