Teacher appears in court on sex charges

NASHVILLE – The former Rocky Mount High School teacher indicted on charges of having sex with a student appeared in court Monday without an attorney.

During Kelly Bartz’s first appearance, she filed papers for a court appointed attorney, and Nashville attorney Rick Hamlett was assigned to handle her case.

If convicted, Bartz, 39, could face 44 months in jail, N.C. Superior Court Judge John W. Smith said during the less than two minutes Bartz appeared in front of him.

Bartz was indicted by a Nash County grand jury in August on charges of sexual activity with a student by a teacher.

The student was in one of Bartz’s English classes during second semester last school year, she said in a Telegram interview.

The student’s mother said she believes a relationship began earlier in the school year.

The Telegram does not publish the names of victims of sexual crimes.

Bartz resigned from her teaching position June 30, after 10 years with Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.

Bartz’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 10.