Top Story Spotlight Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory s_johnson Sep 29, 2026 Sep 29, 2026 Updated 5 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A former Burke County high school coach was arrested in Catawba County on sex charges involving a student. Rugama-Blandon kAmw6C=:?E@? #2>@? #F82>2\q=2?5@?[ ba[ @7 w:4<@CJ[ :D 492C865 H:E9 76=@?J D6I 24E H:E9 2 DEF56?E 2?5 76=@?J :?5646?E =:36CE:6D H:E9 2 DEF56?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED]k^AmkAm#F82>2\q=2?5@? H2D 3@@<65 :? E96 r2E2H32 r@F?EJ s6E6?E:@? u24:=:EJ @? %F6D52J]k^AmkAm%96 2CC6DE H2CC2?E D2:5 #F82>2\q=2?5@? H2D 2 4@249 2E y:>>J r] sC2F89? w:89 $49@@= :? '2=56D6] #F82>2\q=2?5@? H2D 6>A=@J65 36EH66? pF8] `e[ a_ab[ 2?5 yF?6 b_[ a_ad[ qFC<6 r@F?EJ !F3=:4 $49@@=D !F3=:4 #6=2E:@?D ~77:46C r96CJ= $9F77=6C D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:= @? %F6D52J]k^Am People are also reading… Kannapolis beer and BBQ joint to permanently close. Here’s the last chance to visit End of an era: NC DMV eliminates stickers, routine paper registration on Oct. 1. Here's why Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver Cabarrus County sees more top leadership turnover as commissioner resigns NC constitutional amendments on 2026 ballot. Here's what you should know Man drowns in Lake Norman while saving his sister from overturned kayak NC kills $9M incentive after Mooresville company failed to deliver on jobs N.C. newborns now screened for two additional disorders Two years later, Helene scars linger across WNC public lands Morganton, Lenoir residents accuse Winston-Salem's Quality Oil of selling contaminated gas Two years after Helene, NC roads are open but much rebuilding work lies ahead Cabarrus facility among hospital beds across NC delayed by industry appeals Climate change blamed for one-fourth of all heat-related emergency room visits in NC Apparel chain Cato says it will close 120 stores by the end of the year Trump rejects Iran’s proposal to open Hormuz, end fighting kAm%96 G:4E:> H2D 2 DEF56?E 2E y:>>J r] sC2F89? w:89 $49@@= 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 C6A@CE65 4C:>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 2CC6DE H2CC2?E]k^AmkAm#F82>2\q=2?5@? 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H92E :D >6?E:@?65 23@G6]k^Am kAm“x? 86?6C2=[ H6 E2<6 2== 4@?46C?D :?G@=G:?8 DEF56?E D276EJ D6C:@FD=J 2?5 4@@A6C2E6 7F==J H:E9 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] p== 6>A=@J66D F?56C8@ 324<8C@F?5 4964<D 2?5 EC2:?:?8 56D:8?65 E@ 96=A D2768F2C5 @FC DEF56?ED] (6 6IA64E 2== 6>A=@J66D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 @FC D49@@= 5:DEC:4E E@ FA9@=5 E96 9:896DE DE2?52C5D @7 AC@76DD:@?2=:D> 2?5 4@?5F4E]k^Am kAm“~FC 7@4FD C6>2:?D @? AC@E64E:?8 @FC DEF56?ED 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 2 D276[ DFAA@CE:G6 6?G:C@?>6?E 7@C 6G6CJ 49:=5]”k^AmkAm#F82>2\q=2?5@? :D 36:?8 96=5 H:E9@FE 3@?5] #F82>2\q=2?5@? :D :??@46?E F?E:= AC@G6? 8F:=EJ :? 2 4@FCE @7 =2H]k^Am Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the Hickory Daily Record. 0 Comments Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver “This isn’t over,” Jennifer Jo Cobb said. “The judgment has not been entered.” 3 rare beetles smuggled out of NC point to illegal world of bug collectors, feds say But the insect cargo is just a piece of what CBP officials say is a larger, illegal underground market selling exotic bugs to collectors. Woman accused of doing heroin in restroom at sheriff’s office, NC deputies say A routine appointment at the sheriff’s office became a felony when a 47-year-old woman stopped to do heroin in the ladies' room, according to … A Winston-Salem teen was charged with murder in mosque deaths thousands of miles away. Here's why “A person may be guilty of a crime, although he or she personally does not do any of the acts necessary to constitute the crime.” Watch Now: Related Video Trump is starring in new TV ads. US taxpayers are paying for them Michael Elkins explains what's next if the Protect College Sports Act passes Michael Elkins explains what's next if the Protect College Sports Act passes Why ICE agent's ex-wife doubts his account of fatal shooting Why ICE agent's ex-wife doubts his account of fatal shooting Trump administration gains access to voter data Trump administration gains access to voter data
s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Davidson County woman awarded $850K in lawsuit against former Mooresville NASCAR driver “This isn’t over,” Jennifer Jo Cobb said. “The judgment has not been entered.”
3 rare beetles smuggled out of NC point to illegal world of bug collectors, feds say But the insect cargo is just a piece of what CBP officials say is a larger, illegal underground market selling exotic bugs to collectors.
Woman accused of doing heroin in restroom at sheriff’s office, NC deputies say A routine appointment at the sheriff’s office became a felony when a 47-year-old woman stopped to do heroin in the ladies' room, according to …
A Winston-Salem teen was charged with murder in mosque deaths thousands of miles away. Here's why “A person may be guilty of a crime, although he or she personally does not do any of the acts necessary to constitute the crime.”