A Rock Hill teacher and athletic coach has been charged with multiple felony counts related to the sexual exploitation of children, according to law enforcement.
Douglas McAlpine, 37, was arrested on March 31 by the York County Sheriff’s Office. He faces five charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators allege that McAlpine was in possession of and distributed explicit digital files involving child sexual abuse.
Authorities said the material was traced to an online account linked to McAlpine. They clarified that he did not produce the content himself and that no students from the local school district were involved.
Douglas McAlpine was a teacher at Castle Heights Middle School and also served as the boys’ and girls’ track coach at Rock Hill High School.
Following his arrest, Rock Hill Schools confirmed that McAlpine has been placed on administrative leave. In a statement released Monday, the district assured families that student safety remains its top priority and that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement.
“We want to be clear: no students were involved in this investigation,” the statement read. “At no time was the safety of students or staff compromised.”
Just months earlier, in November 2024, McAlpine had been publicly recognized by Rock Hill Schools for his contributions in the classroom.
The following is an official statement released by Rock Hill Schools:
Today, Castle Heights Middle School teacher Doug MacAlpine was taken into custody by law enforcement. MacAlpine is also the boys and girls track coach at Rock Hill High School. He is now on administrative leave. While we understand there may be concerns, we want to reassure our community that no students were involved in this situation, and at no time was the safety of our students or staff at risk.
The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities as they handle this matter.
Rock Hill Schools holds all employees to the highest professional and ethical standards. We expect all staff members to serve as role models and uphold the trust placed in them by our students, families, and community. Any actions that compromise that trust are taken seriously and will be addressed in accordance with district policies and legal guidelines.
We understand incidents like this can be unsettling; however, we are committed to supporting our staff and students at Castle Heights and Rock Hill High. As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, we are unable to provide further details.
We appreciate the continued support of our school community as we remain committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all students.
This arrest has left many in the community stunned, especially those familiar with McAlpine’s role as a mentor to student athletes. The case is ongoing, and further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
