Eric Ames, a 39-year-old physical education teacher from Raleigh, was arrested after allegedly teaching at Aversboro Elementary School in Garner while under the influence of alcohol and THC. The case centers on allegations tied to first-grade students at the school on Aversboro Road, and the charges are all misdemeanors.
Authorities charged Ames with disorderly conduct on school property, child abuse and simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. He is suspended with pay, out on bond and scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21.
Aversboro Elementary School in Garner
The warrant said Ames was responsible for first-grade students at the time of the alleged incident. It also said he was teaching while under the influence of alcohol and THC, linking the arrest directly to his role in the classroom.
That sequence leaves parents with a narrow but important practical question: a teacher remained in a position of responsibility over young students while the warrant described alleged impairment. Ames is now facing misdemeanor charges, and the school has already removed him from duties by placing him on paid suspension.
Eric Ames and Oct. 21
Ames remains out on bond as the case moves toward the Oct. 21 court date. The charges on the warrant give the next stage of the case its shape, with the court appearance set to address allegations involving school property, child abuse and possession of a Schedule IV substance.
What specific behavior or evidence led authorities to conclude that Ames was impaired while teaching is the open question left by the warrant. For now, the documented facts are the arrest, the charges, the paid suspension and the pending court appearance.
