By Roberto Bustamante
A North Carolina high school guidance counselor and volleyball coach was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after admitting to having sexually abused a teenage student whom he was supposed to help with her anxiety, authorities reported.
Jessica Patrick Finley pleaded guilty to multiple serious sexual crimes against a minor, including six counts of child sexual abuse, eight counts of lewd acts with a minor, a sexual act with a student and crimes against a child under 15 years old, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI).
Finley, who worked at McDowell High School, was accused of grooming a 14-year-old student during the 2023-24 school year by initiating inappropriate communications that led to sexual encounters, according to investigators.
The abuse allegedly took place in part inside Finley’s office at the school, where the student had initially sought psychological support.
During victim statements, the teen’s sister described Finley as “a predator… lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim,” McDowell News reported.
“We would have knocked out the door of that building to save it from that monster.”said the young woman’s mother.
Court documents obtained by local station WLOS revealed that the relationship included explicit text messages discussing sexual encounters and future acts. Prosecutors claimed that many of these encounters occurred after the victim turned 15.
According to court documents, Finley also She told the student that she planned to leave her husband and children to be with her..
The relationship came to light after the teen’s parents discovered the messages and reported them to authorities, leading to Finley’s resignation from McDowell County Schools in February 2024.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) launched an investigation at the request of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately charging Finley with numerous sex crimes.
In April 2025, Finley initially rejected a plea deal and attempted to have his bail reduced, a request that was denied.
He eventually pleaded guilty to all charges in the superior court.
“I just want to say that I am very sorry for my actions and for the damage I have caused.”Finley testified in court. She was sentenced to a minimum sentence of 28 years and four months and a maximum of 40 years and six months in prison.
Keep reading:
– Louisiana teacher charged with 25 sex crimes against two young students.
– Kentucky high school teacher arrested for having sexual relations with a student.
