Bengals cheerleader Sarah Jones is already involved in litigation with a website over damaging claims made about her, and now she faces accusations of having sexual relations with a student.
Jones has been a Ben-Gal the past five seasons and resigned as a teacher at Dixie Heights High School (Ky.) last November. She’s been indicted on felony charges of first-degree sexual abuse and unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited acts, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Jones’ mother, who is a middle school principal, was indicted on charges of tampering with physical evidence in her daughter’s case. The lawyer for the Joneses says his clients maintain their innocence and will plead not guilty.
“Sarah denies it completely and apparently the quote, un quote ‘victim’ denies it and is not cooperating … and his parents are upset Sarah is having to go through this which is not usually the case in these situations,” Eric Deters, Jones’ attorney at the time, said in December.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan told The Associated Press the club is aware of the case and had no comment. Each charge she faces is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Jones is also involved in a highly publicized case with a website that claimed she had slept with several Bengals and had two STDs. A federal judge in Kentucky awarded Jones an $11 million default judgment for defamation, but litigation continues in the case.