Alabama lunch lady admits to sexual relationship with student, faces felony charges while her family remains silent.
Amy Nicole Wigginton, a 41-year-old married lunchroom worker at Lauderdale County High School in Alabama, has been fired and criminally charged after admitting to having sexual relations with an underage student. The school board unanimously terminated her employment following her confession to police. Wigginton allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the student on school property twice in March. Despite being released on a $100,000 bond, she faces Class C felony charges, with consent not being a valid legal defense in Alabama for school employees who engage in sexual relations with students.
Another School Employee Crosses the Line
Just when you think the educational system couldn’t get any more disturbing, here comes another story that would make any parent’s blood boil. This time it’s a 41-year-old lunchroom worker who apparently couldn’t understand the basic concept of not having sex with students. Wigginton was arrested on April 4 and charged with two counts of a school employee engaging in sex acts with a student – specifically for incidents that allegedly occurred on March 7 and March 31 on school grounds. Let that sink in. School grounds. Where children eat lunch.
Married Alabama lunch lady, 41, brought teen student home for sexual encounters: reports https://t.co/4x9HkfIxZ3 pic.twitter.com/c7B95cm9hb
— New York Post (@nypost) April 5, 2025
What’s particularly outrageous is that after waiving her Miranda rights, Wigginton simply confessed to the whole thing. Perhaps she thought honesty would somehow make sexually exploiting a student under 19 years old more acceptable? The criminal justice system in Alabama, thankfully, disagrees with that assessment.
The Law is Clear (Even When Morals Aren’t)
Alabama’s laws on this matter leave no room for interpretation. While the age of consent in Alabama is 16, school employees fall under a completely different category when it comes to sexual relationships with students. The state rightfully recognizes the inherent power imbalance between school staff and students. Sexual contact with a student is classified as a Class C felony, and consent cannot be used as a defense – a critical point that apparently escaped Wigginton’s understanding when she decided to engage in this behavior.
“The Lauderdale County Board of Education is aware of the allegations, and the employee has been placed on administrative leave. We will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials, and have no further comment on this matter.” – Lauderdale County School System
The school board didn’t waste any time once the facts came to light. After initially placing Wigginton on administrative leave following her arrest, they quickly voted unanimously to terminate her employment. At least someone in this story is demonstrating proper judgment, even if it’s just damage control at this point.
Family Devastation in the Wake
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this story is what’s not being reported. Wigginton is married with several children of her own, and reportedly posts about them frequently on Facebook. One can only imagine the devastation this has caused her family. Her husband and children now have to live with the public humiliation and shame brought on by her actions, while simultaneously dealing with the potential loss of her income and freedom if she’s convicted. Her family has, understandably, not publicly addressed the allegations.
Wigginton’s preliminary hearing is set for June 23, where we’ll learn more about the case that will likely destroy her life as she knew it. She’s currently out on a $100,000 bond, which gives her some time to contemplate just how severely she’s betrayed not only her professional obligations but also her family commitments. The school system has stated it will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the case proceeds.
A National Problem That Keeps Getting Worse
This case is unfortunately just one in an alarming trend of inappropriate relationships between school staff and students across the country. Every few weeks, it seems another story breaks about a teacher, administrator, or, in this case, support staff member who couldn’t maintain the most basic professional boundaries with students. What’s particularly frustrating is how these incidents continue despite the severe legal consequences and the obvious moral implications. It raises serious questions about the screening processes schools use when hiring staff who will have regular contact with students.
As Wigginton awaits her day in court, parents across Lauderdale County are likely having difficult conversations with their children. The betrayal of trust doesn’t just affect the victim in these cases – it ripples through the entire community, leaving students, parents, and even other educators questioning the safety of what should be a secure learning environment. One thing’s for certain – the lunch line at Lauderdale County High School will never quite feel the same again.
