BREAKING: Allen Mitchell pleads guilty to sex abuse of a minor, child porn

SALISBURY, Md. – Former James M. Bennett High School Counselor Allen Mitchell pleaded guilty to sex abuse of a minor and child pornography charges on Wednesday morning.

Mitchell took the plea after an investigation into his communications with several students in Wicomico County. During the plea, the state read facts out loud to the court, saying that Mitchell met one his victims when she was in the sixth grade. When that victim was in eighth grade, the victim says Mitchell began sending her nude photos of himself and requesting photos from her. She eventually began babysitting for Mitchell, but the state said sometimes Mitchell’s daughter was not there, and he’d tell the victim to lie to her parents so she could go to his residence.

The state continued on, saying Mitchell had inappropriate Snapchat conversations with several students, including a 17-year-old student. Mitchell told those students to change his name in their phone to keep their conversations private.

The state recommended a sentence of 41 years incarceration, with all but 20 suspended. Part of his plea means Mitchell will also have to register as a sex offender for life.