Cheerleader Sarah Jones: Not Guilty

Cheerleader Sarah Jones: Not Guilty, The Cincinnati Bengals cheerleading captain who is accused of sleeping with one of her students pleaded not guilty today on a sexual abuse charge and unlawful use of electronic devices to solicit illegal activity.

Sarah Jones, 26, an ex-teacher and current member of the Ben-Gals cheerleading squad was arrested last week along with her mother Cheryl, a middle school principal who faces a single charge of tampering with evidence in her daughter’s case.

Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe also reduced the bond of the mother and daughter to $15,000 for each woman.

Sarah’s was previously set at $50,000 while her mothers was set at $30,000. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

Jones has been a member of the Ben-Gals squad for five years and, until last year, was a ninth grade English teacher at Dixie Heights High School in Edgewood, Kentucky.

The indictment against her states that she had a sexual relationship with a senior at the school while she was a teacher there. She resigned from her teaching job on November 30, citing ‘personal reasons’.

Sarah Jones Cheerleader

Sarah Jones Cheerleader, A Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleader is facing criminal charges for allegedly having sex with a minor. A Kenton County grand jury indicted Sarah Jones Thursday of first degree sexual abuse and unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities. The sexual abuse charge carries a punishment of up to five years in prison.

Cheryl Jones, Sarah’s mother, was indicted for tampering with evidence. Cheryl is the principal at Twenhofel Middle School in Independence. Sara Farmer, a special prosecutor from Jefferson County was assigned to the case because of a conflict of interest. The conflict of interest was because Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders was sued multiple times by Eric Deters, the lawyer who previously represented Jones.

Jones resigned from her teaching position at Dixie Heights High in November 2011. She is currently the team captain of the Ben-Gals cheerleading squad.

Lawyers for both Sarah and Cheryl Jones said Thursday afternoon the mother and daughter will be pleading not guilty. Sarah’s lawyers say their client is maintaining her innocence and call the indictment of Cheryl Jones “completely baseless.”

“Cheryl Jones did not tamper with evidence,” said attorney Charles T. Lester.

Bengals spokesperson Jack Brennan said the team has no comment at this time.

Dixie Heights High School is referring all comment to the Kenton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Terri Cox-Cruey. She says officials are aware of the situation and do not have a comment at this time other than to say Jones resigned from her teaching position. The school district is not conducting their own investigation, but will closely monitor any developments in the case.

In 2009, Sarah Jones sued TheDirty.com after a photo of her and former Bengals kicker Shayne Graham appeared on the gossip website. The photo was posted anonymously along with hundreds of comments she said were untrue and hurtful.