Former Estill Co. High School teacher pleads guilty to not reporting sexually charged messages sent by her boyfriend to student

A former Estill County High School teacher has pled guilty to not reporting sexually charged messages between her boyfriend and a student.

Sherry Murphy, 41, of Irvine, pled guilty to reduced charges of wanton endangerment and tampering with physical evidence after initially being indicted for complicity to commit unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual activities, failure to report child abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor (illegal sex acts, victim under 18), and solicitation to commit unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual activities.

Police said 37-year-old Torstein Torsteinson, of Irvine, became involved in a relationship with Murphy in order to contact a student for sex. Torsteinson unsuccessfully tried to contact the student via Facebook Messenger in September 2018.

Torsteinson then began a relationship with Murphy in order to gain access to the student, which he did. Police said Murphy knew about Torsteinson’s September attempt to contact the student for sex, but took no action.

After Torsteinson eventually made contact with the student, he instructed the victim to delete the messages he previously sent. Again, Murphy knew of this activity and did nothing. Murphy’s arrest citation says she knew of at least three other students Torsteinson tried to contact for sex.

Murphy was also accused of punching a student at her residence in an attempt to make the student withdraw the complaint against Torsteinson. She also forced the student to lie to social services and the school district about the assault.

Torsteinson, a Honduran immigrant in the U.S. on a work visa, was taken into custody by immigration officials in 2019.

Formal sentencing for Murphy is scheduled for January 4.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com