Former NFL cheerleader Sarah Jones denies being the "female Sandusky"

GlobalPost

Sarah Jones, a former cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals now facing sex crime charges, is defying the prosecution's request that she stop talking to the media. "I read on a blog that I was the female [Jerry] Sandusky," Jones told ABC News. "To read those things and not be able to comment, not be able to stick up for myself is not fair." 

Indeed, this case is a far cry from the Sandusky case. Jones, 27, is charged with having sex with an underage student at a high school where she taught, The Kentucky Enquirer reported. But the alleged victim did not press charges. In fact, his family is on Jones' side, joining her in court as one of her supporters, ABC reported. What's more, the boy is 17-years-old, one year short of becoming a legal adult.

More from GlobalPost: When the BRICs crumble

In a contentious court battle Monday, prosecutors asked for a gag order to stop pretrial publicity. The judge has not yet made a decision about the gag order, the Kentucky Enquirer reported. Jones' attorney Eric Deters meanwhile fired back at the prosecution, accusing them of leaking Jones' text messages to the media.

In addition to first-degree sex abuse, Jones is also charged with sending "steamy" text messages to the boy, or, in boring legal terms, "unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities." In a radio interview last week, Jones' attorney said that the case was first sparked by comments made by the alleged victim's ex-girlfriend,  the Kentucky Post reported.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.