Who is Ashton Alana McCluskey? Married Alabama teacher accused of sexually abusing student turns herself in
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA: An Alabama junior high school teacher who turned herself in to cops and got arrested for having sex with a minor student has now been released.
Ashton Alana McCluskey who has been working as a 7th-grade math teacher at Brooks High School since 2017 was put on administrative leave in January 2021 after allegations arose that she had sex with a student. The married 26-year-old, a former cheerleader at the University of Alabama was also a private cheer coach at the 490-student school. McCluskey was awarded a Distinguished Young Woman of Lauderdale County scholarship while a senior in high school in 2011.
READ MORE
In January, she was charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor student. She turned herself in on Wednesday, February 24, and was later released on a $50,000 bond. If convicted, McCluskey faces up to 20 years in prison. She has not yet entered a plea and arrest documents do not name an attorney authorized to speak on her behalf.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton previously told WAAY that the case was referred to the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation due to a conflict of interest. Supposedly the student involved is a family member of an employee with the sheriff’s office. “The student is a family member of one of our employees, so for that reason, the case was referred to the SBI for further investigation,” Singleton said.
According to CBS affiliate WHNT, the charges indicate the student was under 17 when McCluskey allegedly initiated sex. Other details in the case were not immediately available. The school system has said it will not comment further on the case pending its outcome.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.