Former Mercer County High School teacher Mark Artcher has begun serving his Mercer County Jail sentence. He reported Sunday for the 180-day term of which he will get day-for-day credit. Artcher entered an Alford plea in November to an amended Class A misdemeanor charge of attempted criminal sexual abuse. The 62-year-old was arrested in April of 2019 and originally faced a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two Class 2 felonies of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, involving three different victims under the age of 13.
In an Alford plea, the defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him or her, but does not admit to committing the offense.
In addition to the county jail sentence, Artcher was also placed on 24-months’ probation and must register as a sex offender.