Two Decades Later: NC Teacher Faces Arrest for 2005 Abuse Allegations

When a crime surfaces after 21 years, it raises an uncomfortable question: what took so long? That’s the reality facing Broughton Magnet High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, after Career and Technical Education teacher Steven Robert Kohls was arrested on May 14, 2026, for sexual abuse allegations dating back to 2005.

Kohls, 57, faces eight counts of sexual activity by a custodian, three counts of sex offense in a parental role, and two counts of statutory sex offense of a child by an adult. The alleged abuse first came to the attention of police on May 2, but the conduct in question spans over two decades—a stark reminder that some victims take years before coming forward. The timing gap between the alleged incidents and their report is a common pattern in abuse cases, where shame, fear, and trauma often keep survivors silent for extended periods.

The 57-year-old is being held without bond at Wake County Detention Center in the Raleigh-Durham area. Following his arrest, school leadership moved quickly to reassure parents and the community. In a letter obtained by ABC11, Broughton Magnet High School’s principal emphasized that the charged conduct is alleged to have occurred in 2005 and is not related to incidents that occurred on campus or with current students. Kohls has been suspended with pay while the legal process unfolds.

The case underscores a troubling reality in education: that individuals who abuse positions of authority may operate undetected for years before accountability finally arrives. Whether through delayed disclosure, incomplete investigations, or institutional gaps, the distance between alleged crime and consequence can stretch decades. For the victims in this case, that wait is finally over—though the road to justice is just beginning.