CLAYTON, N.C. -- A Clayton music teacher is under arrest and accused of holding one of his adult students in sexual servitude over a four-year period, according to Town of Clayton officials.
Ivan Hampden, Jr., 60, promised a singing career to one of his students and used that promise to hold her in sexual servitude beginning in 2014 and lasting until August of this year, authorities said.
Hampden is the owner and operator of Hamptown Music Institute at 104 S. Barbour St. in downtown Clayton.
According to officials, the 58-year-old victim took singing lessons at his business. During some of those lessons, Hampden would tie the woman up in a back room and record multiple different sex acts with the woman, investigators said. Some of the video and images were then sent to the victim.
"There was some sort of manipulation that allowed these crimes to continue on for a lengthy point in time," said police chief Blair Myhand, who added the encounters were not consensual.
Myhand said Hampden promised he'd help the victim with her singing career.
According to Hamptown Music Institute's website, Hampden won Grammy Awards for his work with Luther Vandross. He also worked with the artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez.
"I've heard drums going on over there, and I've hear different instruments. I've seen them practice out front," said David Penny, who owns a Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner's in downtown Clayton.
Penny said he can see the music school from the back door of his office, but never imagined something alarming was going on inside.
"This is a quaint little town," Penny said. "I just never heard of nothing like that — especially the tie up part. It's just unreal."
The woman recently told a family member about what was happening and that person helped her come forward to police, officials said.
Police seized several computers and other evidence from Hampden's home and business. Investigators said the items seized are "consistent with the sex acts described by the victim."
Hampden is charged with five counts of sexual servitude and seven felonies for disseminating obscenity.
Police said that at this time they have no evidence of there being any other victims, but the investigation is ongoing. Myhand asked that any other potential victims come forward.
"If you're involved in anything that makes you feel uncomfortable and it doesn't seem right, talk to someone about it to get their input or come see us," Myhand said. "If someone didn't commit a crime, you're not going to get them in trouble. If they did, we want to help protect victims from further victimization."
Hampden is being held in the Johnston County Detention Center on a $200,000 secured bond.
