Former Jefferson City school volunteer pleads guilty to child sex crimes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City woman who volunteered at a private school is set to be sentenced in April after she pleaded guilty last week to sexual abuse for a relationship with a student.

Jennifer E. Cecil pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, a felony. She was charged in July 2023 after the victim told law enforcement about it and the victim's parents confronted Cecil, according to court documents. The victim said Cecil initiated the relationship.

Lighthouse Preparatory Academy in Jefferson City, where Cecil volunteered, said in a statement at the time that it had launched an internal investigation and was cooperating with police.

First-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony in Missouri with a three-to-10-year prison sentence.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 14.