A former teacher and Gold Hill resident last week pleaded guilty in Rowan County Superior Court to having sex with his students.

Matthew Belk, 31, of 1085 Taylor Country Lane, pleaded guilty to two counts of having sex with students. He initially faced 21 felony charges of having sex with students, which were dismissed. Court documents show Belk was a teacher at South Davidson High School when the offenses occurred. Belk had sex with multiple students from May 2013 until July 2014, according to court documents.

As a result of his plea, Belk will serve 30 days in jail. His jail time can occur on weekends, according to court documents. Belk’s plea also resulted in two consecutive suspended sentences of up to 25 months, 36 months of probation, sex offender treatment, registering as a sex offender and being barred from all school property. He will also be required to pay court costs within three years, according to court documents.

Belk began his relationship with students at South Davidson High School through text messages, according to court documents. Belk and the students discussed meeting multiple times and exchanged pictures. His cellphone was seized as evidence. Interviews with two female victims were also used as evidence in court.

Belk was a boys basketball coach, a job he held from 2012 to 2014, and science teacher at South Davidson. He graduated from East Rowan High School, where he played basketball and later coached junior varsity basketball, and East Carolina University.

Soon after Rowan County sheriff’s deputies started an investigation into Belk’s sexual acts with students, he resigned his position at South Davidson. He was placed under a $10,000 bond after being arrested. After posting bond Belk got a job at Big Lots.

In court, Belk was represented by local attorney Darrin Jordan.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246