A former Trigg County High School teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor accepted a plea deal Thursday morning in Christian Circuit Court.
Forty-year old Ashley Wells of Hopkinsville entered an Alford plea to one count of unlawful transaction with a minor in the second-degree, amended down from sexual abuse in the first-degree. The deal comes with a one-year sentence that will be felony pre-trial diverted for three years under the supervision of probation and parole.
An Alford plea functions as a guilty plea, but allows the defendant to not admit guilt while acknowledging there’s likely enough evidence for a conviction if the case were to go to trial.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling described the conduct in the case as a ‘passionate kiss’ that lasted several minutes when the minor’s hands made some type of sexual contact with Wells’ body.
Boling says there were no accusations of sexual intercourse between Wells and the minor victim.
The pre-trial diversion will last three years and she will not have to serve jail time as long as she doesn’t commit any new crimes. Wells will not be required to register as a sex offender.
The original Christian County Grand Jury indictment said the incident happened in December of 2016 and that Wells held a position of special authority or trust over the victim.
Final sentencing was scheduled for January 18.