LITTLE RIVER COUNTY, Ark - A former Foreman, Arkansas, girls' basketball coach is charged with possessing sexually explicit material in connection with a 16-year-old female student.
Ashley Laine Hipps, 26, was allegedly brought to the attention of the Little River County Sheriff's Office in May, according to a probable cause affidavit. A representative of Foreman Independent School District said Hipps was employed as the head girl's basketball coach from May 22, 2019, until the end of the spring semester this year.
The district would not say whether Hipps' employment has been terminated.
The Arkansas Board of Education website indicates that Hipps holds a teacher certification for P.E. and health that expires Dec. 31, 2024.
LRSO investigator Russell Hopkins received a report that Hipps was allegedly engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with one of her female students and that the 16-year-old girl possessed a video of her and Hipps kissing.
After getting a search warrant for cell phones belonging to Hipps and the girl, Hopkins took the devices to the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department for extraction of data. The data allegedly revealed that Hipps was involved sexually with a 16-year-old girl. A nude photo of the girl was allegedly discovered on Hipps' phone.
Hipps is charged with distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, first offense.
If convicted, Hipps faces three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Hipps is currently free on a $10,000 bond.