Matthew Shane Wester, Amy Nicole Cox: Ex-teacher indicted for sexual relations with student now married to her

Teacher “Matthew Shane Wester” who is charged with sexual relationship with a student “Amy Nicole Cox” gets MARRIED to her now that she is 18.

The couple obtained a marriage license on June 8 and wed in Gulf Shores on Saturday, according to public records.

Authorities said the marriage could impact the criminal case against the former Cleveland High School math teacher.

Matthew Shane Wester was indicted by a grand jury in January on one count of a teacher having sexual contact with a student. Wester was placed on paid leave in November 2014 amid the allegations, but has since resigned from his position as math teacher and coach. Wester taught 10th grade advanced geometry, 11th grade geometry, 12th grade algebraic connections and 9th grade algebra. He was assistant varsity football coach and head track coach.

According to the indictment, Matthew Shane Wester “intentionally and knowingly engaged with a male or female student under the age of 19 in sexual contact which was done for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either party, to wit – kissing and spending the night with the victim.”

At the time the investigation began, he was married to someone else. The divorce was finalized in April, and Wester’s ex-wife was awarded custody of their child.

Cox graduated from high school in May, and the couple obtained their marriage license in Cullman County on June 8.

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey said she was made aware of the couple’s marriage over the weekend.

“I was provided a marriage license this morning out of Cullman County, which confirmed that they were married on Saturday in Gulf Shores,” said Casey. “The charges currently pending against Mr. Wester stem from an investigation of his relationship with the victim while she was a student and he was a teacher. Now that the legal status of their relationship has changed, we will have to look at our case to determine how we will proceed.”

Casey also said that the Alabama Code 1975 12-21-227 says the husband and wife may testify either for or against each other in criminal cases, but are not compelled to do so.

Agencies/Canadajournal