The family of a young man who is nonverbal and has autism has filed a lawsuit against the Moore County school district and a teacher’s assistant, claiming their son was slapped and knocked on the floor. According to his family, Matthew lives with the most severe form of autism, so he’s prone to challenges with speaking and interacting with other people.

Matthew Wells was 17 years old during the alleged incident on Sept. 16, 2021, at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines.

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Matthew’s parents said they remember that day because their son’s behavior suddenly changed. They said Matthew usually went to the gym after school to exercise, but that day he went back to his room, laid down and went to bed.

“He's not able to verbalize that something happened at school,” Chris Wells said of his son.

Chris and Leslie Wells said that day a new teacher’s assistant started in their son’s special needs class. When they picked Matthew up from school, the school’s principal and vice principal brought him to the car.

“We did ask, ‘Hey, what’s going on here,’” Chris Wells said. “You know the answer was something to the extent of, ‘Well, there was a little incident, but everyone is fine.’”

Two weeks later, the Wells family got a call from an officer with the Moore County Schools Police Department.

“The guy said he wanted to talk to us about the assault on our son, and we were like, ‘What? Assault?’” Leslie Wells said. “He said, ‘Yeah, this [was] two weeks ago, and were like, ‘This is the first we’ve heard about it.’”

The police report filed in the case states, “Teacher Assistant struck student in face and neck area.”

WRAL Investigates is not using the name of the teacher’s assistant because he was found not guilty of a charge of assault on a handicapped person.

Court documents show the teacher’s assistant resigned on Sept. 17, 2021.

WRAL Investigates asked Moore County Schools about the family’s claims, including:

  • What is the policy to notify parents of an incident regarding their child at school?
    • What is the training required for teachers and teacher assistants when it comes to special needs students?
      • Can administrators, such as principals, refuse to answer questions regarding a student's safety or incidents at school when parents ask?
        • Who is the person, if necessary, a parent can reach out to with questions? Who is ultimately accountable?
          • Would anyone in a position of leadership, such as the superintendent, be willing to answer these general questions in an interview?

            Moore County Schools would not address those questions.

            In response, Moore County Schools said, “This case is still in its earliest stages and the school system’s attorneys have not yet engaged in pretrial discovery, while motions are pending. Keep in mind that allegations in a complaint are nothing more than allegations, not the full story. At this time, we cannot make further comments regarding pending litigation."

            The Wells family said they never intended to file a lawsuit against the Moore County Schools Board of Education and the teacher’s assistant. However, they said they felt compelled to advocate for other parents like them, which is why they are now taking this case to federal court. The family filed the federal lawsuit in October 2024 and it is now making its way through the courts.

            “It’s hard to feel like your kids are going to be safe,” Chris Wells said.

            The Wells family also said they want to bring attention to training for people who work with special needs students.

            “Part of what we're looking at is not just the incident in those moments, but how did Moore County get to a point where those moments happen?” Chris Wells said.

            The lawsuit states, “Moore County Schools hired (the assistant) even though he had no teaching certifications, training or experience, including related to teaching individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is not a unique occurrence.”

            Chris and Leslie Wells said the school would not give them an answer as to what happened. Chris Wells said he also called the principal.

            “Her answer was, ‘I wasn't in the classroom. I can't speak to it. I didn't witness anything,’” Chris Wells said. “And so I asked her, ‘Why did you not tell us it was alleged our son was assaulted?’ And she said again that she wasn't in the classroom [and] she had no knowledge of it.”

            WRAL News asked Chris Wells if it was the same principal who met him and his wife on Sept. 16, 2021, at their car. He confirmed it was.

            After multiple phone calls and letters to administrators asking about policy and process, the Wells family say they kept hitting roadblocks, including from the police.

            “I just very point blank said [to the Moore County Schools director of student safety], ‘Sir, I’m giving you one more chance to as a decent human being, just let us know like what happened to our son,’” Chris Wells said. “And he said, ‘I’m not going to speak to you.’

            “And I said, ‘You’re telling met that you … as the voice of the district are telling us you’re not going to speak to us?’ And he’s like, ‘Yes.’”

            Eventually, the teacher who saw what happened between the teacher’s assistant and Matthew Wells hesitantly talked to the Wells family. WRAL News asked Chris Wells and Leslie Wells what she said to them.

            “He had like an open slap across Matthew’s face,” Chris Wells said.

            “And, he knocked him to the floor,” said Leslie Wells, who had tears in her eyes.

            Chris Wells said the teacher told them she couldn’t handle what happened and ran into the hallway, screaming for help.

            WRAL News asked Chris and Leslie Wells if they have asked their son about it.

            “I mean, we can have the conversation with him, it's just he can't articulate … what happened,” Chris Wells said.