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A former assistant middle school track and field coach has been arrested on charges of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Durham private school confirmed Wednesday.
Sumner Horton Virkler, 21, of Durham is charged with 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, court records show. A Durham Academy spokesperson confirmed Virkler is the former coach arrested.
Virkler, who graduated from Durham Academy in 2023, was arrested last week after investigators found he’d possessed child sexual abuse material involving children as young as 5, according to court records.
A LinkedIn profile appearing to belong to Virkler states he coached at his alma mater from March to May. Virkler previously attended East Carolina University, but transferred to Beacon College, a private college for students with learning differences, in June, his LinkedIn shows.
Besides his position at Durham Academy, Virkler previously led youth tennis camps and clinics as an assistant tennis professional at Durham’s Hope Valley Country Club in the summer of 2023, according to his LinkedIn.
Court documents show Virkler is currently unemployed.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” wrote Durham Academy director of marketing and communications Leslie Traba in an emailed statement. “At this time, we have received no information to suggest that the charges are connected to any Durham Academy students, families, or school activities.”
The school is reviewing Virkler’s interactions with students as an assistant coach and will cooperate with law enforcement as needed, Traba said.
Virkler remained in jail without bail as of Wednesday afternoon.
