Erwin librarian accused of sex with 15-year-old

Amanda Michelle Clapp, 26, of 2861 Old Buies Creek Road in Angier, made her first court appearance Tuesday morning. She is charged with two counts of statutory rape in connection with alleged sexual contact with a 15 year-old boy.

Clapp worked part-time as a librarian in Erwin and Angier and was hired as a full-time employee at the Erwin branch in April. Authorities say Clapp befriended the teenager through her work with the library.

“There had been some telephone communications, some social media communications and also him patronizing the library,” said Erwin Police Chief William Morris.

Morris said that the child’s parents filed the complaint against Clapp. Court papers show that the alleged incident happened on July 27. It is not clear if it happened in the library or at some other location.

“There have been allegations of both, depending on who you ask, as to whether it happened on town property or whether it happened off town property,” said Morris. “At this point, we’re looking to try and clarify that.”

Sources close to the investigation say Clapp thought she was having consensual sex with a young adult, not a 15-year-old. An employee at the library told WRAL News that a 15 year-old and 18 year-old teenager were hanging out at the library frequently and she noticed Clapp spending a lot of time with them.

The part that has rocked the community is that the alleged acts may have happened right next door to the Erwin Police Department.

“It’s a place where our neighborhood kids come and go on foot every day. We monitor it very closely, and this event had just started last week, we believe,” said Morris. “We believe it’s an isolated incident and have taken steps to hopefully prevent it from happening again.”

Morris said that more charges may be filed against Clapp.

Clapp has resigned from her position at the library. She is currently free on $20,000 secured bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 18.