Former Mercer County High School teacher Mark Artcher has entered an Alford plea to an amended Class A misdemeanor charge of attempted criminal sexual abuse. The agreement was entered Monday morning in Mercer County Circuit Court. Artcher was placed on 24-months’ probation, sentenced to 180 days in the Mercer County Jail and fined $2,500. He must also register as a sex offender and retire as a teacher. Mercer County State’s Attorney Meeghan Lee spoke with WRMJ after the hearing.
Artcher, who declined comment, will turn himself into the Mercer County Jail on Jan. 3. He will not lose his teacher pension. The charge he pled guilty to was in connection with an incident involving a child under the age of 13.
The 61-year-old Artcher 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.