LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – An employee of an Eastern Carolina mental health facility for children is accused of having sexual relations with a teen resident.

Lenoir County deputies say 36-year-old Therese Dove, of Kinston, helped the 17-year-old to run away from Nova Behavioral Healthcare.

Dove was charged Tuesday with two counts of sexual activity by custodian.

Deputies say the teen was reported as a runaway on Friday. Their investigation found that Dove had the sexual relationship with the teen while the 17-year-old was staying at her Kinston home.

Nova, which is on Shackleford Road just outside of Kinston, says it serves children between 5 to 17 years old who have complex behavioral and emotional challenges.

WITN reached out to Nova to find out what type of job Dove has at the facility and her current employment status. So far, we have not received a call back from the company.

The sheriff’s office says she has posted bond.