RALEIGH, NC - WRAL News in Raleigh reports that a city dance teacher charged with several sex crimes and child abuse in 2024 pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse by causing serious physical injury.
Elissa Edwards, 43, accepted a plea deal in New Hanover County court on Monday, the outlet reported.
Edwards was initially charged in New Hanover and Pender counties.
In the latter, she was indicted on Jan. 28, 2025, for sexual offenses in which she was at least six years older than the victim and for indecent liberties with a child.
In New Hanover County, Edwards was indicted on two counts of statutory rape and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.
Edwards was offered a plea agreement on Monday and pleaded guilty to one felony charge of child abuse. The other charges were dismissed based upon the guilty plea to felony child abuse, court documents said.
Edwards, who had no prior criminal record, had her six-to-eight-month prison sentence suspended in favor of probation. She was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, according to court documents.
On July 18, 2024, Edwards was arrested in Raleigh after allegations of misconduct involving multiple dance studios across North Carolina.
Edwards was charged after engaging in years of sexual abuse involving a former student. The victim provided an impact statement in court, and the charges date back to 2007. The victim was 13 years old at the time.
The victim initially reported the abuse in 2018, but the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office did not pursue charges due to a perceived lack of evidence.
Upon learning that Edwards was moving to Raleigh to work in a dance studio, the victim took to social media to warn the dance community.
Edwards is prohibited from working with anyone under the age of 18 in any capacity under her plea agreement.
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