North Carolina counselor sentenced to decades for abusing student seeking help

A former North Carolina high school guidance counsellor and volleyball coach has been sentenced to several decades in prison for the sexual abuse of an underage student.

Jessica Patrick Finley, 31, received a sentence of 28 years and four months to a maximum of 40 years and six months.

The sentencing followed her guilty plea to multiple charges, including six counts of statutory sex offence with a child and indecent liberties with a child under the age of 15.

The case originated at McDowell High School in February 2024 after the victim's parents discovered inappropriate text messages.

The investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation revealed that Finley targeted a 14-year-old student who had initially approached her for help with anxiety and depression.

Search warrants indicated that the abuse escalated to sexual contact within Finley's school office. During the proceedings, the victim, now 17, testified that she felt trapped in the relationship because Finley threatened to harm herself if the contact ended.

"I was seeking help during a time when I felt alone, and she took advantage of that," the teenager told the court.

Finley, who had been in custody for over two years, expressed remorse during the hearing, apologising for the pain she caused.

However, the judge maintained a strict sentence, noting the breach of trust involved in her professional role. In addition to her prison term, Finley is required to register as a sex offender upon her release.

A future hearing will determine if she must wear a satellite monitoring device, and a psychological evaluation has been mandated by the court to assess her risk to the community.