By DONNA THORNTON, Editor
Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims said his office has investigated a report of a possible incident between an Asbury high school teacher/coach and a student and found no evidence of an inappropriate physical relationship occurred.
Sims said the sheriff’s office received a report of the possible incident on Dec. 17, 2025.
“As of today, we have closed this case as unfounded and determined there wasn’t any evidence of an inappropriate physical relationship that occurred,” Sims said. “Our findings will be turned over to the Marshall County School Board for their review.”
The timeline of events surrounding the allegation had been called into question after a statement from Marshall County School Superintendent Cindy Wigley, and a counter-statement from Asbury High School Principal Clay Webber.
According to a Facebook post, Wigley qualified to run for re-election to the superintendent’s office Monday, Jan. 5. Webber has made public his plan to run against Wigley.
The probe into the alleged relationship became known after a statement from Marshall County School Superintendent Cindy Wigley that said on Nov. 17, 2025, an Asbury High School staff member witnessed comments made by two students alleging an inappropriate relationship between a coach and a student.
The staff member immediately contacted the assistant principal and met with the AHS principal and the assistant principal the next morning, and they subsequently met with the coach, according to the statement.
On Dec. 17, the statement said, the AHS Principal notified the deputy superintendent of the situation, and that a report had been made to the Department of Human Resources.
After an update from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, the superintendent placed the coach on administrative leave pending further investigation, and the Alabama State Department of Education was notified the same day, the statement said.
After Wigley’s statement was made public, Asbury High School Principal Clay Webber issued a press release, saying the initial account did not “accurately reflect” what happened at the high school, and “did not take into account previous communication/reports to law enforcement.”
Webber said he was limited in what could be said because personnel issues and the ongoing investigation, but he guaranteed that all legally required protocols were followed, adding that the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office could confirm that.
Webber said he received a substantiated complaint/allegation Dec. 17, 2025 and a formal report was filed immediately “in accordance with police and legal requirements, and the appropriate district/external authorities were notified.
When the sheriff’s department became involved, he said, “the investigation proceeded independently of the school, and Asbury High School cooperated fully at every stage.”
Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims
