Broughton teacher faces 19 charges for child sex crimes over 10-year span

A Broughton Magnet High School teacher is facing additional charges for accusations he sexually assaulted children, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Steven Kohls, 57, of Dunn, is now facing 19 total charges over a 10-year span, after six more charges were filed Friday, according to the sheriff’s office.Kohls appeared in court on Monday for the second time since his arrest. 

He asked a judge to grant him bond, and stated that none of the accused incidents happened while he was working for the school system. 

However, one student did accuse Kohls of touching him inappropriately. 

An arrest warrant indicates the alleged offenses happened between 2005 and 2014.

Wake County sheriff’s deputies arrested Kohls on Wednesday. His arrest comes after deputies received reports on May 2 of an alleged sexual assault that happened in 2005 in Wake County.

Authorities said there are three victims who were children.

 In addition to his role as an educator at Broughton High School, Kohls’ Facebook page shows he was an active member in Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America. WRAL News has learned Kohls has been banned from Scouting America. It is unclear if Kohls held a leadership role in the organization.

The Occoneechee Council of Scouting America released the following statement.

“We are aware of the arrest of Steven Kohls,” the statement reads. “His membership in Scouting has been revoked, and he has been permanently prohibited from any participation in Scouting programs. The council will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.”

Scouting America also shared its comprehensive safeguarding framework designed to prevent abuse. It includes:

• Mandatory safeguarding training for all volunteers and employees
• Policies requiring two trained adults and prohibiting one-on-one interactions in all settings, including digital communication
• A screening process for adult leaders and staff that includes criminal background checks
• Restrictions on the use of recording devices in private areas
• Mandatory reporting of suspected abuse to law enforcement.

Scouting America also provides a 24/7 Scouts First Helpline (1-844-SCOUTS1), including call and text options, and an email contact (scouts1st@scouting.org) to report concerns. Additional information is available at the Scouting America website.

Kohls currently has a foster care license with the state of North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [NCDHHS] told WRAL News that Kohls was issued a license to provide foster care on July 15, 2024, which is set to expire on July 15, 2026. 

In a statement, an NCDHHS spokesperson said it could not comment on a specific case investigation or circumstance but provided a statement.

"Licensed foster parents are monitored by their supervising agency in the county through regular home visits, quarterly contacts, and ongoing oversight to ensure safety and compliance,” the statement reads. “All required background checks are completed at initial licensing and renewal. When there are criminal charges that include allegations of sexual abuse of children, agencies that license foster parents ensure the safety of children by no longer allowing placements of children in the home." 

According to a letter from Broughton High School Principal Janiece Dilts, Kohls is a career and technical education teacher at the school. Dilts’ letter indicated these charges did not happen on school grounds and no current students were victims.

After hearing about these charges, former student Wilson Angley decided to speak. Angley said Kohls touched him inappropriately for several minutes in 2022. After Angley told a friend and a teacher in the fall, they encouraged him to report it.

"He comes behind me, closes the door and tells me, take my shirt off," Wilson Angley said. "I was pretty much just speechless and just scared and didn't know what to do. Why would you do that to someone that looked up to you like that? There's no need for that at all. It's disgusting. It's sick. He just betrayed trust."

WRAL News has reached out to Kohls’ attorneys but have yet to hear back.

Raleigh Police investigated Angley’s allegations in 2022, but it never resulted in charges because the district attorney declined to file any. The same day Raleigh Police began its investigation, Wake County Public Schools suspended Kohls with pay.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman released the following statement.

“An investigation into allegations of sexual battery involving Kohls was reviewed by our office and it was determined there were not sufficient evidence to move forward,” Freeman wrote. “Mr. Kohls currently has been charged with offenses that are entirely unrelated to those allegations, and which did not arise from his position as a teacher for the Wake County Public School System.”

Kohls remains behind bars with no bond. His first court