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 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 :? 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It never actually happened. First freight train to return to Old Fort this Saturday. When can you see it come through McDowell? McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees Former North Carolina sharpshooter first rookie in NBA history to accomplish rare feat Where Duke basketball stands after one week in transfer portal 52nd Little Miss McDowell pageant crowns 2026 winner McDowell County Schools superintendent: Our taxes pay for tomorrow's future 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 @? 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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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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 Karoline Leavitt Defends $400 Million White House Renovation AP top stories for April 21 AP AP top stories for April 21 Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Trump Tells Companies to Skip Their Tariff Refunds Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer Fuel prices driving up food costs, straining supply chains, says Chilliwack grocer 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.
