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… New RV dealership opens in McDowell County; Old Fort RV Park reopens Morganton man faces drug, felony firearm possession charges in McDowell County Pair charged with NC double murder moved into victims' home after deaths, warrant says 4 Carolina Panthers players who improved their stock in preseason loss to Bills Woman tracked missing AirPods, leading to arrest of Marion man, sheriff's office says 14 new businesses opened in Marion in past year, according to report Somewhere between Western Sizzlin and Michelin star: Marion has a new steakhouse. 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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? 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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. 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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.
