Last Updated on April 18, 2026 8:18 pm
A former McDowell County High School volleyball coach and counselor has been sentenced to more than 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony child sex offenses.
Jessica Patrick Finley pleaded guilty to all charges in superior court on Thursday, April 16, 2026. She was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years and four months and a maximum of 40 years and six months in prison.
The case began in February 2024, when the McDowell County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation following allegations involving Finley. The investigation revealed that Finley had inappropriate communications with a 14-year-old student, which led to her resignation from McDowell County Schools that same month.
Finley was charged with six counts of statutory sex offense with a child, eight counts of indecent liberties with a child, sex act with a student, and offenses involving a child under the age of 15.
In April 2025, Finley declined a plea agreement and chose to proceed toward trial. A subsequent request for a reduced bond was denied in August 2025. She ultimately pleaded guilty to all charges.
The SBI's Western District agents and the McDowell County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.
📋 NC State Bureau of Investigation
