Randolph County prosecutors are asking a grand jury to weigh new, more serious charges against a Union City high school secretary after investigators say data pulled from her phone showed sexual activity involving a minor. Alicia Hughes, 31, was already charged with five counts of child seduction and is being held in the Randolph County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. The latest recommendations would add child-exploitation and child-pornography allegations to the case.
How the case began
The investigation started on Feb. 14 after officers were dispatched to a reported battery. According to investigators, Hughes' husband allegedly found her with an 18-year-old student, and an altercation followed. As detectives dug in, they say they uncovered evidence that Hughes had a separate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, including at least five alleged sexual encounters, which led to her arrest on five counts of child seduction. As reported by WLWT, Hughes was booked into the Randolph County Jail and ordered held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
Prosecutors seek additional felony counts
On April 25, prosecutors formally received additional materials submitted for review that recommend adding counts of child exploitation and possession of child pornography, according to WTHR. Those proposed charges came after detectives forwarded their findings to the prosecutor's office for a closer look.
Evidence described by investigators
As part of the probe, investigators searched Hughes' phone and found material that, according to WTHR, "showed a person under 18 years old engaged in sexual acts." That discovery is what prompted prosecutors to pursue the more serious recommended counts. Police have not released the files or provided a public timeline for the alleged content, and they say the investigation is still very much active.
Legal stakes and next steps
Each child-seduction charge is filed as a Level 5 felony in Indiana, generally punishable by one to six years in prison. Child-exploitation and child-pornography statutes can carry higher penalties depending on the conduct and materials involved, according to state law summaries. Prosecutors can seek consecutive sentences on multiple counts, and any convictions would trigger sex-offender registration and other collateral fallout. For statute text and summaries, see FindLaw and Justia.
School and defense responses
The Randolph Eastern School Corporation has confirmed that Hughes has been removed from duties involving students while authorities investigate the allegations. Hughes' attorney has publicly blasted the release of police interrogation footage and pushed for limits on what law enforcement shares with the public, calling the video's distribution an "injustice" in comments reported by The Blaze.
The Randolph County prosecutor's office will decide whether to formally file the recommended new counts. If it does, the charges and future court dates will appear on the Randolph Circuit Court docket. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Union City Police Department as they continue their work on the case.
