IFN Staff

A Lake Norman High School wrestling coach is free on an unsecured bond after being charged with assaulting a student.

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Stephen William Boyle, 36, of Grayland Road, Mooresville, in a news release on Tuesday.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation on Saturday after being contacted by medical staff at Novant Health Medical Center in Huntersville regarding a patient being treated for injuries reportedly sustained during an assault, Campbell said.

Deputies learned the patient was a student at Lake Norman High School and that the incident had occurred the previous day on school grounds, according to the news release. The student and the victim’s mother told deputies that the student had been assaulted during wrestling practice by Boyle, who is a teacher and coach at the school, Campbell said.

Boyle intentionally and repeatedly struck the student in the head during practice, the student told deputies.

Due to the nature of the allegations, the case was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. Detective C. James and Detective J. Graves conducted multiple interviews with witnesses who were present at the practice when the incident occurred.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that an altercation had occurred between the victim and another student at the practice, Campbell said. Boyle intervened in the altercation between the students and allegedly struck the victim multiple times in the head with his hand, according to the news release.

The student was taken to the emergency room by family members on Saturday after not feeling well. Medical staff reported the victim showed symptoms consistent with a concussion, according to the news release.

As a result of the investigation, detectives obtained warrants charging Boyle with misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor child abuse.

Boyle was arrested on Monday. Magistrate R. Imes issued a $10,000 unsecured bond.