Family member speaks out

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A relative of an alleged student victim speaks for the first time against a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher. Jerry Seale faces four felony sex-offense charges.

“Throughout this whole process, he (Seale) used his authority as a CMS teacher to do these terrible things upon my niece," said Yuri, uncle to the alleged victim.

Walking out of his first court appearance, Seale denied doing anything wrong against his former student Wednesday.

“The only thing I want to say to the student is I’m sorry she did this to me,” said Seale.

Yuri said Seale gave financial favors to the student and her family.

"No, they didn't think anything weird about it because basically you had a family that was in need," said Yuri.

Yuri showed WCNC a Jerry Seale credit card transaction for a designer perfume, a receipt for bedroom furniture purchase signed “Jerry Seale,” and Seale’s signature appears as a co-signer on a rental property contract for the student’s family.

Yuri said Seale gained family trust.

"With the family having a crisis in which the mother was in a real bad car accident and he preyed upon them in that, offering them financial assistance,” added Yuri.

Besides money and gifts, the student’s uncle said Seale offered the girl guidance and out of town trips.

"It was sold to the parents that he was giving her an opportunity to do something outside Derita School that would help her better herself," said Yuri.

Yuri said the after school relationship began last year.

"My nieces (were) very afraid of him. He often threatened them and pushed her down the car when he would transport her from place to place,” said Yuri.

The alleged victim eventually told a friend. The friend told police.

"I don't thing any sex as far as with a student and a teacher is consensual," Yuri said.

WCNC spoke with Seale over the phone Friday. He would not respond to Yuri’s claims.