McDowell County -- April 19, 2026: A former McDowell County High School Guidance Counselor was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes. The case highlights the swift action taken following concerned parents reporting suspicious activity, underscoring the critical role of community vigilance in protecting children in Western North Carolina.
Jessica Patrick Finley, 31, was sentenced on April 16, 2026, to a minimum of 28 years in prison. The sentencing followed a guilty plea to multiple child sex crimes involving a 14-year-old student.
The investigation began in February 2024 after parents reported suspicious text messages to school officials. This prompted the McDowell County Sheriff's Office to involve the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Western District agents.
Finley faced charges including six counts of statutory sex offense with a child, eight counts of indecent liberties with a child, and one count of sex act with a student, along with additional offenses involving a child under 15.
Finley resigned from McDowell County Schools in February 2024, around the same time the investigation began. She initially declined a plea offer in April 2025 and was denied a bond reduction in August 2025 before eventually pleading guilty to all charges.