Ex-HS counselor reportedly was 'crying throughout the hearing' after she was hit with felony sex charges involving student

A now-former high school counselor in North Carolina has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student at the school, according to police.

Asheboro Police Department officers on Friday arrested 39-year-old Amber Elizabeth Walker, according to the arrest warrant WFMY-TV obtained.

'Asheboro City Schools is aware that a former employee of the district has been taken into custody in connection with alleged inappropriate activity.'

Walker was charged with two felony counts of sex act with a student, the arrest warrant said. Walker faces up to 94 months in prison if convicted on both charges, WFMY reported. During Monday's hearing, prosecutors petitioned the court to hold Walker without bond.

Walker's attorney argued that his client isn't a flight risk because she resides in Guilford County, where her 2-year-old son and her parents live, WXLV-TV reported. Her attorney also noted that Walker poses no risk of reoffending, as the school district no longer employs her.

However, the judge said the charges against Walker are considered violent offenses under Iryna’s Law, which means a defendant cannot be released on an unsecured bond or written promise, WXLV reported. Iryna's Law was enacted in October 2025 in response to the brutal killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte commuter train.

According to the Duke Chronicle, the main provisions of Iryna's Law are to "enforce stricter pretrial release conditions, mandate mental health evaluations for some defendants, and expedite the process for implementing capital punishment."

Walker's secured bond was set at $50,000, and the judge ordered her to have no contact with the victim.

Walker was "crying throughout the hearing," according to WFMY.

Walker was a counselor and girls' basketball coach at Asheboro High School, according to WFMY.

Multiple posts on the official Asheboro High School Facebook account from 2019 and 2021 identify Walker as "Coach Walker" while congratulating the girls' basketball team.

RELATED: 'Monster' guidance counselor admits to sexually abusing underage girl; promised to leave husband and kids for victim: Police

Police said they received a tip on Friday accusing Walker of engaging in sexual activity two days before with an underage student at the school, WFMY reported. Police said detectives "quickly developed evidence confirming the allegation" and took Walker into custody within hours of receiving the potentially damning accusations.

WXII-TV reported that the school district hired Walker on Feb. 26, 2018, and Asheboro City Schools fired her Friday. The school district said in a statement that it will "continue to cooperate with appropriate authorities as necessary."

"Asheboro City Schools is aware that a former employee of the district has been taken into custody in connection with alleged inappropriate activity," the school district said in a statement WFMY obtained.

The New York Post reported that just two months ago, Asheboro City Schools urged college-aspiring students to contact Walker for scholarship opportunities.

Walker is scheduled to appear in court on May 26. The Asheboro Police Department and the Randolph County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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