Teacher accused of rape to stay in jail By Mandy Locke, Staff Writer SMITHFIELD - The Johnston County teacher accused of raping an 11-year-old student in 2003 will remain behind bars, a District Court judge decided this morning. Rebecca S. Withrow, 30, appeared before Judge Addie Rawls on Monday, legs shackled and head bowed, as her attorney promised Rawls that if she let his client out of jail, the suspect would return as ordered by the court. J. Michael McGuinness, Withrow’s attorney, told the judge that his client needed to be with her two children, ages 7 and 9. He also argued that his client has been an exemplary teacher and mother. Rawls, however, refused to reduce her bond of $750,000. Withrow is accused of first-degree rape of a child, taking indecent liberties with a child and committing a sex offense with a student. Withrow, a fifth-grade teacher at Polenta Elementary School, resigned last week. Staff writer Mandy Locke can be reached at 829-8927 or mandy.locke@newsobserver.com.
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