Overview
- Jessica Finley received a prison term of at least 28 years and up to 40 years after pleading guilty to 16 sex-crime charges.
- Prosecutors said the girl first sought help at age 14, and several sexual acts occurred when she was 15, including incidents inside the counselor’s office.
- The case surfaced after the student’s parents found explicit messages and alerted authorities, and Finley resigned from McDowell High School in February 2024.
- Court documents and interviews said Finley groomed the teen and used pressure tactics, including threats of self-harm when the teen tried to end contact.
- Finley, who also coached volleyball, apologized during sentencing as the victim’s family delivered statements about the harm and breach of trust.