Cincinnati Bengals Cheerleader Sarah Jones Takes Plea Deal in Case of Alleged Sexual Relationship With a Student [UPDATE]

Sarah Jones, the Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader and teacher who was alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a student, has struck a plea deal, and Ohio has been spared a much-anticipated trial that was set to begin Wednesday. From the Cincinnati.com :

"charged with first-degree sexual abuse and unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities. The crimes are felonies that are each punishable by up to five years in prison. Authorities accused Jones of using her position of authority as a teacher in 2011 to coerce a student into engaging in a sexual relationship and sending him inappropriate text messages. She resigned in November from Dixie Heights, where she taught freshman English for about five years."

According to various reports, the student and his family were not going to testify against Jones – or if they were, it was going to be in her defense. Jones is no longer a Bengals cheerleader.

[UPDATE: WCOP-TV is reporting Jones admitted today to having sex with the student – “sexual relationship and sexual intercourse” – and she walked out of court with the student, who is now 18.]