A former substitute teacher in North Carolina has learned her fate after she took a plea deal regarding her sex crime charge that involved a child.
After Katelyn Dawn Schronce pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with a child in Superior Court, she was sentenced to serve between 20 to 33 months in prison, according to WHKY. Schronce, 33, was also ordered to have no contact with the 15-year-old victim.
The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office arrested Schronce on April 17, 2025, and she was charged with statutory rape of a child 15-years-old or younger. Information about the victim has not been made public due to their age.
Police have also not shared how they became aware of the crime and what happened between Schronce and the victim.
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According to the North Carolina General Assembly, a person will be found guilty of taking indecent liberties with children if they are older than 16 years old and are at least five years older than the victim.
It must be proven that those found guilty of the charge either attempted to “take any immoral, improper or indecent liberties with any child of either sex under the age of 16 years for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire” or they willfully committed or attempted “to commit any lewd or lascivious act upon or with the body or any part or member of the body of any child of either sex under the age of 16 years.”
Indecent liberties with children is a Class F felony charge, meaning those found guilty typically face between 10 to 59 months in prison.
At the time of Schronce’s arrest, Catawba County Schools released a statement addressing the situation and confirming that she previously worked as a substitute teacher at one of their schools.
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Schronce began working as a substitute teacher at the district in October 2024. The school district said she was immediately let go from her role once the victim came forward with the allegations.
“Catawba County Schools was recently made aware of the arrest of substitute employee Katelyn Schronce for serious criminal charges,” the district said at the time, per Fox News. “There is no indication at this time that the charges are connected to her employment in our district.”
The district added that “the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.”
“We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as their investigation continues,” the statement concluded.
