Former teacher charged in assault
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on March 16, 2010 1:46 PM
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Richard Allen Pate
A report of a sexual offense taking place in August of 1992 has resulted in charges against a 62-year-old former Eastern Wayne Middle School teacher, Goldsboro police said today.
Goldsboro resident and former teacher Richard Allen Pate, 62, of Hines Drive, is charged with one count of statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a minor. Police say the alleged sexual offenses did not take place at the school.
The complaint was filed on Feb. 26 by a man -- not a former student at the school -- who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offense in August 1992.
Police Sgt. Chad Calloway said that investigating older allegations of sexual abuse does not differ much from investigating a recent case.
"Even if it's a short period of time, all you've got is the victim's information, the suspect's information, and sometimes you might have evidence on the scene.
"But no, it's not a whole lot different, other than finding some ... witnesses that might corroborate some of what the victim has said."
Calloway said witnesses have been located in this case.
"Yes, witnesses that we contacted ... would corroborate some of the things that the victim said," Calloway said. "I don't want to construe that those persons were eyewitnesses to the event."
Investigator J.L. Sutton believed enough probable cause existed to pursue the charges against Pate, according to a news release.
Pate was in Wayne County Jail under a $500,000 bond as of this morning.