Former Cold Springs coach Paige Adams pleads guilty: Sentenced to 7 years, will serve 1 year in prison

CULLMAN, Ala. – Former Cold Springs High School teacher and head girls’ basketball coach Paige Parker Adams pleaded guilty Thursday to two felony school employee sex offenses and three counts of distributing obscene material to a student.

Cullman County Circuit Court Judge Emily Johnston accepted the negotiated plea agreement and sentenced Adams, 35, to 84 months, or seven years, in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Under a split sentence, Adams must serve 12 months in prison day for day. She will then complete 36 months of supervised probation, according to the plea agreement and a statement from Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker.

The court also ordered Adams to register under the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act as a result of the two felony convictions. She must surrender her teaching certificate.

Under the agreement, Adams pleaded guilty on the first count to a lesser-included Class C felony school employee sex offense. She pleaded guilty as charged on the second Class C felony count.

Crocker described both convictions as felony counts of sexual contact with a student.

Adams also pleaded guilty to three Class A misdemeanor counts of distributing obscene material to a student. The remaining 27 obscenity counts were dismissed as part of the agreement.

The court imposed 84-month sentences on the two felony convictions and 12-month sentences on the three misdemeanor convictions. All sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time.

Adams will receive credit for time already served pending disposition of the case, as determined by the circuit clerk.

The plea agreement also requires Adams to pay a $2,500 fine, a $750 bail bond fee, a $25 juvenile day treatment fee and court costs to be calculated by the clerk. Payments are set at $150 per month and are to begin within 45 days of her plea or release from incarceration.

Crocker released a statement Thursday afternoon to clarify Adams’ convictions and sentence after what he described as differing and sometimes inaccurate media reports.

“There are no winners in this case,” Crocker wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court. “Everyone who will be in court today for sentencing has lost something.”

Crocker said Adams occupied a position of authority, confidence and responsibility as a teacher and coach.

“We are here because the law recognizes that relationships between educators and students are fundamentally unequal because of the inherent imbalance of power and influence,” Crocker wrote. “That imbalance is precisely why this conduct is criminal.”

Crocker said the case involved more than an inappropriate relationship.

“This case is not simply about an inappropriate relationship,” Crocker wrote. “It is about the abuse of authority.”

He said conduct of that nature damages the victim, the victim’s family, the school community and public confidence in those responsible for educating children.

Crocker also asked the court to consider the need for general deterrence and the lasting effect on the student.

“Regardless of the victim’s age or apparent willingness to participate, the law recognizes that students are off limits to educators,” Crocker wrote.

The sentencing memorandum acknowledged that Adams did not have a prior criminal record but argued that her lack of previous convictions did not lessen the seriousness of the offenses.

Crocker also credited Adams for accepting responsibility and entering her guilty plea before the beginning of the upcoming school year.

He thanked Cullman County Sheriff’s Office investigators and specifically recognized Lt. Ryan Fortenberry for his work on the case. Crocker also thanked the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Brooks’ Place Child Advocacy Center and Cullman County Schools for their assistance.

The case became public March 25 when the Cullman County Board of Education accepted Adams’ resignation during a special-called meeting. Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette later said the school system began an internal investigation after receiving a formal complaint and referred the matter to law enforcement. (www.cullmantribune.com/2026/03/26/cold-springs-coach-paige-adams-resigns-amid-investigation-case-turned-over-to-authorities) 

Adams was arrested April 21 following an investigation by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. She was initially charged with one count of a school employee engaging in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student, one count of a school employee having sexual contact with a student younger than 19 and 30 counts of distributing obscene material to a student. (www.cullmantribune.com/2026/04/21/adams-arrested-charged-with-sexual-crimes-with-student) 

A Cullman County grand jury later returned a 32-count indictment. Count 1 was a Class B felony, Count 2 was a Class C felony and the 30 obscenity charges were Class A misdemeanors. The public court records did not identify the student. (www.cullmantribune.com/2026/06/25/paige-adams-case-enters-pretrial-stage-after-resignation-arrest-and-32-count-indictment) 

Adams initially pleaded not guilty. Her attorneys later asked Johnston to dismiss the charges, arguing the school employee statutes were unconstitutional as applied to the case because the student was 18 and did not attend the school where Adams worked. The defense also argued Adams did not hold educational or extracurricular authority over the student. (www.cullmantribune.com/2026/06/25/paige-adams-case-enters-pretrial-stage-after-resignation-arrest-and-32-count-indictment) 

The guilty plea resolves the criminal case before a scheduled hearing on the constitutional challenge.

Adams was represented by attorney Trent Lowry. Crocker signed the agreement for the State of Alabama.