ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A former school employee was sentenced in Buncombe County Superior Court after pleading guilty to felony indecent liberties with a minor, the district attorney’s office said.
On Monday, March 10, 2025, Greg Chapman Sharrits, 61, a former employee of the Progressive Education Program at Valley Springs Middle School, was sentenced to serve a suspended probationary term of 16-29 months in prison, a news release from the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office said. As part of his probation, Grant required Sharitts to serve a five-month active “split” sentence in custody before being released to supervised probation.
The incident was reported on May 29, 2024, when a school resource officer responded to allegations made by Progressive Education Program staff members. Witnesses described observing Sharrits engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a student, the news release said.
Buncombe County investigators conducted a thorough investigation, ensuring the safety of students during the process.
“Sharrits took advantage of a position of safety and trust. The safety of the most vulnerable members of our community—our children—should always be our highest priority. I commend all who reported Sharrits and worked to hold him accountable for his acts,” District Attorney Todd Williams said in a news release.
The district attorney’s office consulted the victim’s family, which approved of the disposition, the news release said.