The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 28-year-old Guilford County man on dozens of felony charges related to “an inappropriate relationship” with a student at Chatham Central High School.

Robert William Woodard III was arrested on Thursday, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Woodard was a band teacher at both Chatham Central High School and Bennett School. He was suspended with pay on March 6 for an unrelated alleged violation of school policy, according to authorities. Woodard resigned his position on Thursday afternoon before his arrest.

An internal investigation from school officials and a subsequent tip from a parent led to law enforcement to begin its own criminal investigation.

“The well-being of students is our top priority. It always is,” Chatham County Schools public relations coordinator John McCann said in a release. “We have zero tolerance for inappropriate relationships — both online and offline — between school employees and our students. We will seek the permanent revocation of Woodard’s license as a professional educator with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.”

Woodard has been charged with eight counts of indecent liberties with a student, seven counts of felony first-degree sexual offense of a child 15 years of age or younger and 18 counts of felony sex acts with a student. All 33 charges are felony offenses.

Woodard is being held in the Chatham County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond and has a court date scheduled for March 20.

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