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Ex-Laurel Ridge Treatment Center CEO faces 6 child sex charges in North Carolina, records indicate

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Ex-Laurel Ridge Treatment Center CEO faces 6 child sex charges in North Carolina, records indicate


DURHAM COUNTY, N.C. – The former CEO of a San Antonio mental health center was arrested Monday in North Carolina on child sex charges. Some of the alleged crimes date back more than two decades.

According to court documents obtained by KSAT on Tuesday, Jacob Cuellar, 46, is facing six counts based in Durham County, North Carolina:

  • two charges of statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult

  • two charges of indecent liberties with a child

  • statutory rape of a child by an adult

  • statutory sexual offense with a child 15 years old or younger

The Durham County indictment, which accounts for the six charges, states that the victims were two minors at the time of Cuellar’s alleged assaults, ranging between 2001 and 2008.

A Durham County grand jury formally indicted Cuellar on the charges on May 19, records show.

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A judge set Cuellar’s bond at $250,000. Publicly available records with the Durham County Sheriff’s Office (NC) state Cuellar has since bonded out of jail and spent less than one day in custody.

According to a report in the Raleigh News & Observer, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Cuellar was a sophomore at Duke University in nearby Durham in September 1998 when North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agents raided his dorm room and seized his laptop and other personal items “as part of an inquiry into whether he used his personal computer to disseminate child pornography.”

It is unclear whether Cuellar faced any charges as a result of the 1998 seizure, according to the News & Observer’s reporting.

In June 2024, KSAT 12 News learned that Cuellar applied for a license as a medical doctor in North Carolina in 2008 but was denied. Information on the North Carolina Medical Board’s website indicated that the reason for the denial was due to a 1999 criminal conviction for preparing an obscene photo.

Although that criminal charge does not appear on his online record in North Carolina, it did appear in other internet databases.

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Cuellar was the former chief executive officer at the Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, which is located on North Loop 1604 East near Redland Road.

Last year, KSAT learned Cuellar voluntarily resigned from the mental health center three weeks before he was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a young girl over multiple years.

KSAT also learned last June that a girl, who was 11 years old at the time, told San Antonio police officers in 2022 that Cuellar had been sexually assaulting her on an ongoing basis.

According to Bexar County court records, Cuellar is facing one charge for continuous sexual abuse of a child under age 14, which is considered a first-degree felony.

Those records also indicate Cuellar is “awaiting trial” on the Bexar County charge.

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After he bonded out from jail in North Carolina, the News & Observer reported Cuellar is now “allowed to return to Texas for his pending trial in San Antonio.”

A date for Cuellar’s Bexar County trial has yet to be determined.

More coverage of this story on KSAT:

Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.



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North Carolina

NC to receive nearly $70M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says $14M hasn’t arrived

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NC to receive nearly M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says M hasn’t arrived


Senator Tedd Budd’s office announced nearly $70 million in public assistance FEMA funds for Helene recovery toward the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cities and counties.

Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed.

Honeycutt estimates about $14 million in reimbursements from FEMA haven’t come through.

As for the $1.9 million just approved for Madison County’s emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement, Honeycutt said the county doesn’t have it yet.

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NORTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE $70M IN ADDITIONAL FEMA FUNDING AS NOEM FACES CRITICISM

“It’s coming back to our fund balance,” said Honeycutt. “And we know it will take six more weeks for it to get through the state and to the county.”

Honeycutt estimates that within six months, FEMA will resolve all reimbursements. He said debris removal jobs along the French Broad River have been delayed as FEMA continues to review the applications.

MARCH 5, 2026 – Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)

In Marshall, the town has leased store spaces on Main Street, along with signs advertising leasing available. But longtime resident, artist and business owner Josh Copus is optimistic that Marshall and its community will thrive once again. He acknowledged that FEMA funds and reimbursements to clean up have been an important part of the area’s recovery.

MORE THAN $3.5M HEADED TO BURKE COUNTY FOR CONTINUED HELENE RECOVERY

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“I would say our town is 50% fixed and our town was 100% destroyed, so 50% is pretty good,” Copus said.

The awards include:

  • Biltmore Forest: $2.5 million for debris removal reimbursement.
  • Buncombe County Sewage District: $1.57 million reimbursement for line repairs, vacuuming, line replacements and riverbank restoration.
  • Old Fort: $1.15 million Westerman Street Waterline for potable water reimbursement.
  • Mitchell County: $11.9 million for debris contractors, tipping fees and debris monitoring reimbursement.
  • Buncombe County: $3.5 million toward labor costs for 836 laborers during and after Helene reimbursement.
  • Asheville: $5.6 million for North Fork Treatment Plant repairs reimbursement.
  • Lake Lure: $1.48 million for lake safety repairs reimbursement.
  • Madison County: $1.9 million for emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement.



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2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers

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2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers


Here are the voter turnout numbers for the 2026 primary election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Hyde County had the highest voter turnout, while Onslow County had the lowest turnout. Check out what the voter turnout in your county was below:

BERTIE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

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31.85% (3,911 out of 12,280)

CARTERET COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

29.06% (16,543 out of 56,931)

CRAVEN COUNTY

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Ballots Cast:

18.63% (14,119 out of 75,778)

DUPLIN COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

21.93% (6,981 out of 31,832)

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EDGECOMBE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

18.16% (6,428 out of 35,396)

GREENE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

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19.70% (2,147 out of 10,900)

HYDE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

37.27% (1,123 out of 3,013)

JONES COUNTY

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Ballots Cast:

25.91% (1,805 out of 6,966)

LENOIR COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

16.73% (6,251 out of 37,371)

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MARTIN COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

17.61% (2,858 out of 16,228)

ONSLOW COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

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11.44% (14,816 out of 129,537)

PAMLICO COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

24.03% (2,446 out of 10,180)

PITT COUNTY

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Ballots Cast:

15.71% (19,429 out of 123,705)

TYRRELL COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

30.49% (723 out of 2,371)

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WASHINGTON COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

28.66% (2,312 out of 8,067)

WAYNE COUNTY

Ballots Cast:

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21.49% (16,408 out of 76,358)



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North Carolina

Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety

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Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety


Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:41PM

NC schools and businesses encouraged to practice tornado safety

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina schools and businesses took part in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

The National Weather Service led the drill at 9:30 a.m., broadcasting it on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. Schools, workplaces and households across the state were encouraged to join in.

The National Weather Service didn’t issue a follow up alert to mark the end of the drill. Instead, each school or business wrapped up once they felt they had practiced the procedures thoroughly.

Wednesday’s drill also replaced the regular weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.

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SEE | New warning for parents amid new ‘fire-breathing’ social media trend

Make sure to download the ABC 11 Mobile App ABC11 North Carolina Apps for Connected TV, Mobile News, Echo

Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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