Former coach indicted on sexual misconduct charges involving student wants case dismissed

Legal counsel for former Cold Springs High School varsity girls basketball coach Paige Adams has submitted a formal motion to dismiss the charges currently pending against her. Adams, who faced a wave of felony and misdemeanor accusations involving sexual misconduct with a student, is challenging the application of state statutes in her ongoing case.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Adams was charged in April with a series of serious counts, including two felonies: school employee engaging in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student, and school employee having sexual contact with a student under the age of 19. Additionally, she faces 30 misdemeanor charges related to the distribution of obscene material to a student. Following these charges, Adams was booked into the Cullman County Jail and subsequently released on $225,000 bond, accompanied by electronic monitoring requirements.

Defense Argument

The motion for dismissal hinges on the argument that Adams did not possess a position of educational or scholastic authority over the student involved, as the individual attended a different high school within the Cullman County system. Defense filings further contend that the alleged victim is 18 years old. Adams’ legal team argues that the current statutes are being applied unconstitutionally in this specific instance, claiming they reach beyond the state's interest in preventing exploitation by authority figures when the parties operate at different schools.

Court Timeline

Circuit Judge Emily Johnston of Cullman County has ordered the state to submit a written response to the dismissal motion by July 22. A hearing regarding the matter has been scheduled for August 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Background

Adams, a former player and assistant at Cold Springs, was hired as the head varsity coach in March 2025. During her only season at the helm, the team finished with a 23-11 record and reached the Class 2A state championship. She resigned following an investigation launched in March, after which she was escorted from school property. At the time of the resignation, Cullman County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette emphasized that the district's priority remained the protection of all students, stating, “We are going to do what is always right, as we always have.”