A former wrestling coach at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro, North Carolina, has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile following an incident that allegedly took place earlier this month.
Hayden Dru Waddell, 25, was taken into custody last week after court documents revealed he allegedly stood by and allowed multiple juveniles to physically restrain and assault another student.
According to information released in the case, the incident occurred on May 5, 2026, and involved a child identified as being under 16 years of age.
The physical assault reportedly involved repeatedly holding the victim against their will while being physically attacked, causing both physical and mental harm that was determined to be non-accidental. Waddell has since posted bond.
What the Charges Allege
Court records paint a troubling picture of what allegedly unfolded under Waddell’s watch. Rather than intervening to stop the assault, he is accused of permitting the attack to occur.
The charges he faces, misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, reflect the allegation that his inaction directly enabled harm to come to a young student in his care.
The nature of the charges raises serious questions about the supervision and accountability structures in place within the school’s athletic program.
A wrestling coach, by virtue of the physical nature of the sport, holds a position that demands careful oversight of student interactions and a clear responsibility to protect those under their supervision.
The School Responds and Severs Ties
Uwharrie Charter Academy moved quickly to distance itself from Waddell following the charges becoming public. In a statement signed by Superintendent Dr. Sharon Castelli and addressed to the school community, UCA confirmed that Waddell is no longer employed by or affiliated with the school in any capacity.
The school emphasized that his departure predated the public attention surrounding the charges, noting that his employment ended nearly three weeks before the statement was issued.
Waddell had served as the school’s wrestling coach during the 2025 to 2026 academic year and had previously worked as a teacher assistant and coach during the 2024 to 2025 school year. His relatively brief tenure at the school has now ended under deeply troubling circumstances.
The statement from Castelli expressed the school’s commitment to student safety and acknowledged awareness of the charges, while stopping short of addressing any specifics.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” the statement read, with the school citing personnel and student privacy laws as reasons it could not elaborate further.
UCA also stated it would continue cooperating with the appropriate authorities as the legal process moves forward.
The school’s response, measured and carefully worded as it was, underscores the delicate position institutions face when staff members are implicated in allegations involving students.
Balancing transparency with legal obligations is rarely straightforward, particularly when minors are involved.
The case now moves through the legal system, with Waddell’s next steps to be determined by the courts.
The community in Asheboro and families connected to Uwharrie Charter Academy will no doubt be watching closely as the proceedings unfold and more details potentially come to light.
