An indicted ex-teacher by the name of Matthew Shane Wester from Alabama is grabbing headlines after marrying Amy Nicole Cox, his former student over the weekend. The former educator was accused in 2014 of having a sexual relationship with the teenager. Matthew Shane Wester is 37 years old, and Amy Nicole Cox is 18.
Indicted ex-teacher weds teen that got him in trouble with the law and story goes viral. Matthew Shane Wester, 37, married Amy Nicole Cox, 18, on Saturday in Gulf Shores, Alabama, according to AL.com. Public records reveal that the couple obtained a marriage license on June 8.
Wester, who was a geometry and algebra teacher at Cleveland High School, got indicted in January for kissing and spending the night with a student. Wester and this teenager are now married, this development could have ramifications in the criminal case against the former assistant varsity football coach and head track coach.
The former Blount County high school teacher, who graduated from Cleveland High School, was placed on paid leave on November 25, 2014 after the allegations surfaced. According to his indictment the father of one, “intentionally and knowingly engaged with a male or female student under the age of 19 in sexual contact which was done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party, to wit – kissing and spending the night with the victim.” Authorities were made aware of the allegations on November 24, 2014.
Amy Nicole Cox graduated from high school in May. Matthew Shane Wester and his ex-wife filed for divorce in January, and it was finalized in April. The ex-wife was granted custody of their child. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey had the following comment about Wester and Cox’s marriage:
“I was provided a marriage license this morning out of Cullman County, which confirmed that they were married on Saturday in Gulf Shores. The charges currently pending against Mr. Wester stem from an investigation of his relationship with the victim while she was a student and he was a teacher. Now that the legal status of their relationship has changed, we will have to look at our case to determine how we will proceed.”
The age of sexual consent in the state of Alabama is 16. As husband and wife, the former teacher and his ex-student can choose to testify against or for each other in criminal cases. However, they can not be forced to do so.
Commentators are split on the future of the relationship, and some went even as far as suggesting that Wester is using his new wife not to face the justice system. Few people did show support to the newlyweds by saying that “love is love” and “age ain’t nothing but a number.”
What are your thoughts on Matthew Shane Wester and Amy Nicole Cox’s marriage? Should the ex-teacher go to prison?
