PRINCETON, W.Va. — A former Mercer County teacher faces up to 40 years in prison when he’s sentenced Monday for sexually abusing girls at PikeView High School.
Jonathan Kirk, 34, of Walton, pleaded guilty in July to five counts of distribution of obscene material, two counts of sexual abuse by a guardian and one count of solicitation by a computer.
Prosecutors said Kirk was involved with about a dozen young girls at the school from 2010-2012. They said one thing the plea bargain accomplishes is it keeps the girls from having to testify in a trial.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin Monday at 9:30 a.m. before Mercer County Circuit Judge William Sadler.