A 32 year old Etowah County man turned himself in to authorities Friday afternoon after he was charged with felony child abuse charges.

The charges were filed in the wake of an investigation into a “paddling incident”, at Etowah Middle School, where Nathan Lynn Ayers works as an Assistant Principal. 

According to report by al.com, Attalla Police Chief Doug Walker stated that findings from an investigation launched in September, were eventually turned over to the District Attorney’s Office, which in turn recommended arrest.

Ayers is reportedly in his second year as assistant principal at the school and he has been in education for a decade.  Attalla City Schools Superintendent David Bowman says the system is still investigating the incident.

After turning himself in, Ayers was released upon meeting his $5,000 bond last Friday.

(al.com/www.al.com)