Church Worker Guilty in Sex Case - Updated

(Franklin, Tennessee) Church youth group worker and mother-of-three Monica Rankin, 30, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges stemming from a sexual relationship she had with a 16-year-old boy.

In the coming weeks, prosecutors and Rankin’s defense attorney will prepare arguments for her sentencing hearing. The state’s attorney handling the case declined to comment on how severe a punishment he would seek.

Each charge to which Rankin pleaded guilty carries a possible prison sentence of several years, along with thousands of dollars in fines.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May 24.

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Church Worker Accused of Sex with Boy
[Previous 11/23/10 post bumped]
(Franklin, Tennessee) A 30-year-old church youth worker, Monica Rankin (aka Monica Rex), has been indicted by a grand jury on counts of child sex abuse for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a 16-year-old boy in her church group.

Rankin faces nine felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to the indictment unsealed Monday, Rankin had several encounters with the teen during June and August of 2009 that involved sexual touching.

Prosecutors also contend Rankin sent the boy electronic images of sexually explicit material.

Rankin was a congregant at The People’s Church in Franklin, according to police, and took on the role of facilitating a youth group.

Rankin was booked into custody yesterday and subsequently released on bail.