A former McDowell County High School counselor and volleyball coach will spend at least the next 28 years in prison following a multi-year investigation into sexual crimes involving a minor student.
Jessica Patrick Finley, who once held a position of trust within the North Carolina school system, pleaded guilty to all charges in superior court on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The case began in February 2024 when the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)…