Alert Featured Trial against former McDowell High volleyball coach accused of sex crimes began Wednesday s_johnson Apr 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 Updated Apr 17, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Thursday, April 16, update: Finley pleaded guilty to all charges on Thursday. Read about the sentencing here.kAm~A6?:?8 DE2E6>6?ED 2?5 E96 7:CDE D6E @7 H:E?6DD6D H6C6 42==65 E@ E96 DE2?5 @? (65?6D52J :? E96 EC:2= @7 2 7@C>6C |4s@H6== w:89 $49@@= G@==6J32== 4@249 244FD65 @7 92G:?8 D6IF2= C6=2E:@?D H:E9 2 `d\J62C\@=5 DEF56?E]k^Am Finley PHOTO SUBMITTED kAmy6DD:42 !2EC:4< u:?=6J[ @7 |2C:@?[ :D 492C865 H:E9 ?:?6 4@F?ED @7 :?5646?E =:36CE:6D H:E9 2 49:=5[ D6G6? 4@F?ED @7 DE2EFE@CJ D6I @776?D6 H:E9 2 49:=5 286 `d @C J@F?86C 2?5 @?6 4@F?E @7 7:CDE\568C66 D6IF2= 6IA=@:E2E:@? @7 2 >:?@C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED]k^Am People are also reading… McDowell County Manager Ashley Wooten submits resignation Nebo woman charged with stealing $700 in cash from her employer McDowell Sheriff’s deputies pursue suspect in short chase Former Burke County coach charged with sex crimes against student in Hickory Old Fort woman charged with possession, trafficking; 50 grams of meth seized Marion family turns a son’s cancer journey into a creamery with a cause McDowell commissioners appoint Will Kehler as interim county manager Litigants named in 'Cornell 7' assault lawsuit McDowell commissioners appoint Maggie Frye as new register of deeds NC man charged with 60-plus counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, police say McDowell County Schools alum completes undergrad in 2 years, starts master's program McDowell County Schools alumni spotlight: Early College grad's career brings her back home Candidates for McDowell County Board of Commissioners answer questions Marion community members gather to honor workers killed in 1929 strike Historic Greensboro mansion on market for $5.1 million. Its pool table was placed by crane kAmx? E96 72== @7 a_ab 2?5 E96 DAC:?8 @7 a_ac[ u:?=6J H2D 2 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C H9@ H@C<65 H:E9 D@A9@>@C6D 2E |4s@H6== w:89 $49@@=] u:?=6J 2=D@ 4@24965 E96 8:C=D G2CD:EJ G@==6J32== E62> 2?5 2 EC2G6= G@==6J32== E62>[ pDD:DE2?E s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J z6?E qC@H? D2:5 5FC:?8 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE @? (65?6D52J]k^AmkAmu:?=6J :D 244FD65 @7 92G:?8 D6IF2= C6=2E:@?D H:E9 2 `d\J62C\@=5 7C6D9>2? :? u:?=6J’D 4@F?D6=:?8 @77:46 2E E96 D49@@=] %96 244FD65 4C:>6D @44FCC65 @? y2?] aa[ a_ac[ u63] `[ a_ac[ u63] a[ a_ac[ u63] d[ a_ac[ u63] e[ a_ac[ u63] ``[ a_ac[ u63] `c[ a_ac[ u63] `e[ a_ac[ 2?5 u63] `f[ a_ac[ qC@H? D2:5 E@ E96 ;FCJ]k^Am kAm%96 `a >2:? ;FC@CD H6C6 D6=64E65 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 4@FCE D6DD:@? @? %F6D52J] (65?6D52J’D D6DD:@? 3682? H:E9 E96 D6=64E:@? @7 EH@ 2=E6C?2E6 ;FC@CD] qJ `_ 2]>][ 2== ;FCJ >6>36CD H6C6 D6=64E65 2?5 @A6?:?8 DE2E6>6?ED 3682?] %96 ;FCJ[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 EH@ 2=E6C?2E6D[ :D >256 FA @7 ?:?6 >6? 2?5 7:G6 H@>6?]k^Am Former McDowell High counselor Jessica Finley faces more child sex charges, gets $1 million bondkAmu:?=6J :D C6AC6D6?E65 3J 5676?D6 2EE@C?6JD r9C:D #F>76=E 2?5 #FDD6== }6:893@CD] $FA6C:@C r@FCE yF586 v2CJ v2G6?FD :D AC6D:5:?8 @G6C E96 EC:2=] v2G6?FD :?7@C>65 E96 ;FC@CD E92E E96J H@F=5 ?@E 36 2==@H65 E@ E2<6 ?@E6D 5FC:?8 E96 EC:2= 2?5 H@F=5 92G6 E@ A2J 4=@D6 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 6G:56?46 AC6D6?E65]k^Am k9am~A6?:?8 DE2E6>6?EDk^9amkAmz6?E qC@H? 3682? @A6?:?8 DE2E6>6?ED 3J E6==:?8 E96 ;FCJ H92E u:?=6J :D 244FD65 @7 5@:?8 H:E9 E96 E96? `d\J62C\@=5 76>2=6 DEF56?E] %96 DEF56?E H2D 2? 2E9=6E6 @? E96 G2CD:EJ 32D<6E32== E62> 2?5 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ G@==6J32== E62>] %96 DEF56?E H2D =2E6C C64CF:E65 E@ E96 EC2G6= G@==6J32== E62> 4@24965 3J u:?=6J[ qC@H? D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 DEF56?E EFC?65 `d :? s646>36C @7 a_ab] qC@H? D2:5 E96 DEF56?E D@F89E @FE 4@F?D6=:?8 7C@> u:?=6J[ 56DA:E6 u:?=6J 36:?8 2DD:8?65 E@ 4@F?D6= D@A9@>@C6D[ 3642FD6 @7 u:?=6J’D ECFDE65 C6=2E:@?D9:A 2D 2 4@249]k^Am kAm%96 DEF56?E H@F=5 @7E6? D<:A 4=2DD E@ 8@ D66 u:?=6J :? u:?=6J’D @77:46 5FC:?8 E96 D49@@= 52J] %96 7C6BF6?4J @7 E96 EC:AD 42FD65 D@>6 @7 E96 DEF56?E’D E62496CD E@ C6249 @FE E@ 96C A2C6?ED[ qC@H? D2:5]k^AmkAmsFC:?8 E96 G:D:ED[ E96 5@@C E@ u:?=6J’D @77:46 H@F=5 36 =@4<65] qC@H? D2:5 @? 2 76H @442D:@?D DE277 @C DEF56?ED <?@4<65 @? E96 5@@C 2?5 H2:E65 F?E:= E96 `d\J62C\@=5 =67E E96 C@@>[ qC@H? D2:5]k^AmkAmp? 288C2G2E:?8 724E@C @7 FD:?8 2 A@D:E:@? @7 ECFDE 2?5 4@?7:56?46 E@ 4@>>:E 4C:>6D H2D 25565 E@ u:?=6J’D 492C86D E@ =6?8E96? E96 A@DD:3=6 D6?E6?46 :7 4@?G:4E65] u:?=6J 5:5 ?@E @AA@D6 E96 288C2G2E:?8 724E@C 5FC:?8 4@FCE @? (65?6D52J]k^Am kAmqC@H? H2C?65 E96 ;FCJ E92E E96J H@F=5 36 6IA@D65 E@ D6IF2= 8C2A9:4 =2?8F286 5FC:?8 E96 EC:2=[ :?4=F5:?8 D6IF2= E6IE >6DD286D 2?5 244FD2E:@?D @7 5:8:E2= A6?6EC2E:@? 2?5 @C2= D6I]k^Am Search warrant: Former McDowell High guidance counselor engaged in sex acts with student on school groundskAms676?D6 2EE@C?6J r9C:D #F>76=E C6>:?565 E96 ;FCJ E92E :E :D E96 AC@D64FE:@?’D ;@3 E@ AC@G6 E96 244FD2E:@?D 5:5 @44FC @? E96 DA64:7:4 52E6D =:DE65 3J E96 AC@D64FE:@?]k^AmkAm#F>76=E E@=5 E96 ;FCJ E92E D@>6 @7 E96 E6IE >6DD286D E96J H@F=5 D66 H@F=5 36 D6IF2==J 8C2A9:4] #F>76=E D2:5 E96 >6DD286D C67=64E 72?E2D:6D @C E2=< 23@FE E96 A@E6?E:2= 7FEFC6[ ?@E C62=\E:>6 D6IF2= 24ED]k^Am k9am(:E?6DD E6DE:>@?:6Dk^9am kAm%96 7:CDE H:E?6DD E@ E6DE:7J H2D E96 DEF56?E’D 72E96C]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\9:89=:89ED E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\C:89E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\@?6\E9:C5Qmk9cmt5:E@CUR_bhjD }@E6k^9cmkAm(6 92G6 49@D6? ?@E E@ :56?E:7J E96 72E96C @7 E96 DEF56?E E@ AC@E64E E96 G:4E:>VD :56?E:EJ]k^Amk^2D:56mkAm%96 72E96C D2:5 :?:E:2==J 9:D 52F89E6C H2D?’E 2==@H65 E@ A=2J @? E96 EC2G6= G@==6J32== E62> 3642FD6 E96 D62D@? @G6C=2AA65 H:E9 E96 32D<6E32== D62D@?] %92E H2D F?E:= u:?=6J >256 D@>6 42==D E@ 86E E96 `d\J62C\@=5 A6C>:DD:@? E@ 36 @? E96 EC2G6= E62>]k^Am kAm%96 72E96C D2:5 2E 7:CDE[ 96 5:5?’E DFDA64E 2?JE9:?8 2?5 ;FDE E9@F89E 9:D 52F89E6C H2D 8@:?8 E9C@F89 EJA:42= 9:89 D49@@= DEC6DD] w6 D2:5 9:D 52F89E6C H2D 2=H2JD 2 E2=6?E65 2E9=6E6 3FE H2D?’E A6C7@C>:?8 2D H6== :? 32D<6E32==] w6 D2:5 9:D 52F89E6C 925 2=D@ 364@>6 H:E95C2H?]k^Am kAm%96 72E96C D2:5 u:?=6J H@F=5 4@>6 E@ >@DE @7 9:D 52F89E6C’D 82>6D 2?5 6G6? D@>6 @7 96C >:55=6 D49@@= D:DE6C’D 82>6D[ :?4=F5:?8 2H2J 82>6D] %96 `d\J62C\@=5’D J@F?86C D:DE6C H2D 2EE6?5:?8 (6DE |4s@H6== |:55=6 $49@@=]k^AmkAmpEE@C?6J r9C:D #F>76=E D2:5 (6DE |4s@H6== |:55=6 $49@@= :D 2 76656C D49@@= 7@C |4s@H6== w:89 $49@@=] #F>76=E 2D<65 E96 72E96C :7 :E H@F=5 36 F?4@>>@? 7@C 2 9:89 D49@@= 4@249 E@ H2E49 A@E6?E:2= C64CF:ED A=2J:?8 2E E96 >:55=6 D49@@=] #F>76=E 2=D@ 2D<65 :7 E96 72E96C 925 2?J H2J E@ <?@H :7 u:?=6J 2=D@ 2EE6?565 t2DE |4s@H6== |:55=6 $49@@= 82>6D] %96 72E96C D2:5 ?@ E@ 3@E9 BF6DE:@?D]k^Am kAm#F>76=E 2=D@ 2D<65 :7 96 D2H 2?J @E96C 4@2496D 2E E96 82>6D] %96 72E96C D2:5 u:?=6J H2D E96 @?=J @?6 H9@ 42F89E 9:D 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am kAm~? u63] af[ a_ac[ H9:=6 2E @?6 @7 E96 G:4E:>VD 82>6D[ E96 DEF56?EVD 72E96C ?@E:465 u:?=6J H2D E96C6 2?5 D6G6C2= 76>2=6 DEF56?ED H6C6 H:E9 96C] w6 D2:5 D@>6E9:?8 76=E @77[ D@ 96 2D<65 9:D 52F89E6C 23@FE :E H96? E96J 8@E 9@>6] %96 DEF56?EVD >@E96C 925 366? 4@?E24E65 62C=:6C 23@FE E96:C 52F89E6C >:DD:?8 4=2DD6D]k^AmkAm%96 72E96C D2:5 9:D 52F89E6C :?:E:2==J D2:5 E96 8:C=D H6C6 H:E9 u:?=6J 3642FD6 D96 H2D =62G:?8 E96 D49@@= 5F6 E@ A6CD@?2= >2EE6CD]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 E9:D 4@?G6CD2E:@?[ 9:D 52F89E6C AFE 96C A9@?6 @? E96 4@F?E6C] $9@CE=J 367@C6 hib_ A]>][ E96 52F89E6C’D A9@?6 C646:G65 H:E9 2 >6DD286 7C@> u:?=6J]k^Am Court documents: Sex charges against former McDowell High School counselor, coach involve studentkAm%96 72E96C D2:5 96 2?5 9:D H:76 5:5 ?@E =@@< 2E E96 >6DD286D F?E:= E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8] u:?=6J E6IE65 E96 52F89E6C EH:46 @? E96 ?:89E @7 u63] af[ a_ac[ 2?5 @?46 E96 7@==@H:?8 >@C?:?8]k^Am kAm%96 `d\J62C\@=5’D A2C6?ED D2H E9C66 E6IE >6DD286D 7C@> 2 4@?E24E =236=65 r@249 y6DD] k^AmkAm(9:=6 E96 72E96C H2D E6DE:7J:?8[ z6?E qC@H? AF==65 @FE 2? 6G:56?46 328 E92E 4@?E2:?65 2? :!9@?6 H:E9 2 DE:4<6C @7 s:D?6J’D !C:?46DD %:2?2 @? E96 324<] qC@H? =2E6C AF==65 @FE 2 AC:?E65 D4C66?D9@E @7 E96 >6DD286D 2?5 5:DA=2J65 :E @? 2 =2C86 7=2E\D4C66? %' :? E96 4@FCEC@@>]k^Am kAm%96 7:CDE >6DD286 C625[ “*@F 6IA64E FD E@ 36 E@86E96C H9:=6 J@F 7:8FC6 @FE D@>6E9:?8 H:E9 2?@E96C 8:C=]”k^AmkAm%96 D64@?5 >6DD286 D2:5[ “*@F 2=D@ E9:?< :E’D 4C2KJ 3FE x =:E6C2==J EC:65 E@ E6== J@F 7C@> E96 DE2CE] %9:D :D H92E x H2D D@ D42C65 @7]”k^Am kAm%96 E9:C5 >6DD286 H2D D6?E @? E96 >@C?:?8 @7 u63] ag[ a_ab] %96 >6DD286 D2:5[ “r2? J@F 4@>6 86E J@FC ?64<=246] x’> ?@E 96C6 2== 52J]”k^AmkAm%96 72E96C D2:5 27E6C C625:?8 E96 >6DD286D[ 96 E@@< E96 A9@?6 E@ E96 D49@@= 2?5 D9@H65 E96 AC:?4:A2=] %96 AC:?4:A2= 4@?E24E65 E96 D49@@= C6D@FC46 @77:46C[ H9@ E96? 42==65 :? 56E64E:G6D 7C@> E96 |4s@H6== r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46]k^Am kAm%96 D64@?5 H:E?6DD E@ E6DE:7J @? (65?6D52J H2D zJ=6 v:3D@?] v:3D@? :D @?6 @7 E96 56E64E:G6D H9@ C6DA@?565 E@ |4s@H6== w:89 $49@@= @? u63] ag[ a_ac]k^AmkAmv:3D@? D2:5 96 H2D D6?E E@ E96 D49@@= 3J 9:D 42AE2:? 3FE H2D F?2H2C6 @7 E96 C62D@? F?E:= 96 2CC:G65] v:3D@? H2D E96 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46C H9@ 4@==64E65 E96 DEF56?E’D A9@?6 2?5 EFC?65 :E :? 2D 6G:56?46] v:3D@? 2=D@ DA@<6 H:E9 E96 DEF56?EVD 72E96C 2E E96 D49@@=[ v:3D@? D2:5]k^Am kAmu:?=6J H2D :?:E:2==J 492C865 @? u63] ag[ a_ac[ H:E9 @?6 4@F?E 6249 @7 D6I 24E H:E9 2 DEF56?E 2?5 DE2EFE@CJ D6I @776?D6 H:E9 2 49:=5 286 `d @C J@F?86C] %96 D6I 24E H:E9 2 DEF56?E 492C865 H2D 5:D>:DD65 @? pAC:= e] %96 255:E:@?2= 492C86D 282:?DE u:?=6J H6C6 :DDF65 :? $6AE6>36C @7 a_ad[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED]k^Am kAmu:?=6J :D :??@46?E @7 2== 492C86D F?E:= AC@G6? 8F:=EJ :? 2 4@FCE @7 =2H]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\C676CQmk9cm|@C6 r@G6C286k^9cmkAmu@C E96 =2E6DE 4@G6C286 @? E96 EC:2=[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^>45@H6==?6HD]4@>Qm>45@H6==?6HD]4@>k^2m]k^Amk^2D:56m Sarah Johnson is the courts and breaking news reporter for the McDowell News. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Former McDowell High volleyball coach, counselor pleads guilty to child sex crimes mid-trial Jessica Finley pleaded guilty on Thursday on the second day of testimony in the trial against her. McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes “A predator was lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim,” the victim's sister said. Watch Now: Related Video Data centers made this county rich. Then came the backlash McDonald's Faces Class Action Over Alleged AI-Powered Menu Price Fixing McDonald's Faces Class Action Over Alleged AI-Powered Menu Price Fixing Florida gas station hikes prices nearly 25 cents overnight Florida gas station hikes prices nearly 25 cents overnight US midterms 2026 latest: Affordability emerges as key issue for voters US midterms 2026 latest: Affordability emerges as key issue for voters Recommended for you
s_johnson Author email Follow s_johnson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Former McDowell High volleyball coach, counselor pleads guilty to child sex crimes mid-trial Jessica Finley pleaded guilty on Thursday on the second day of testimony in the trial against her.
McDowell high school victim testified before former guidance counselor pleads guilty to sex crimes “A predator was lurking behind the walls of the counseling office, waiting for a victim,” the victim's sister said.
