Former Wellston teacher guilty of soliciting sex from student
WELLSTON, Okla. (KFOR) — In court Wednesday, a jury found a former Wellston High School teacher guilty of soliciting sex from a student.
"I'm happy with the charges," said a family member of the victim.
The former teacher, Emma Delaney Hancock, said in court Wednesday that the charges weren't true and that the students lied.
A jury found her guilty on two counts of soliciting sex with a minor through the use of technology.
Hancock had been facing five criminal charges, with court documents showing the alleged abuse against the 15-year-old that lasted for months.
Now, the victim's family has also filed a civil lawsuit.
Throughout the proceedings, several students testified that what the victim told police was true, that she had sent nude videos and images to the student.
The jury suggested six years in prison for Hancock.
Hancock is the wife of Wellston Police Chief Alfred Hancock and the daughter of Wellston Mayor Paul Whitnah, who both testified for her.
Whitnah told News 4 that he believed her and that the students in the case were lying.
The chief wanted to not talk to News 4 when asked for a response.
The relationship prompted an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in 2023. Court documents said Hancock, worked at Wellston Public Schools, and the relationship happened inside the school building.
October of 2022, court documents said Hancock sexually molested the student and allowed him to, "take a hit from her vape pen."
Hancock admitted in court that she did let students smoke from her vape pen.
When Hancock was taken off to prison, News 4 asked if she had a response to being convicted by the jury, but she did not respond.