Tennessee Teacher Guilty of Sex with Girl

(Ripley, Tennessee) A 28-year-old teacher and softball coach formerly at Ripley High School, Amy Elder, has been convicted of child abuse for engaging in sex with a 15-year-old girl.

She went to trial charged with sexual battery and statutory rape by an authority figure but was convicted Wednesday night in Ripley on lesser charges of child abuse.

Elder testified in her own defense and denied having sexual contact with the teenager.

Sentencing is set for December. Elder was convicted on nine criminal counts, each carrying a maximum punishment of 11 months and 29 days in jail.

Elder faces similar charges involving a different student in a trial scheduled for February.