Former Bardstown High School teacher Mary “Hanna” Mattingly pleads guilty in sexual abuse case involving 16-year-old student

A former Bardstown High School teacher, Mary “Hanna” Mattingly, has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges in a case involving a 16-year-old student, according to a report by WAVE. Mattingly, 31, was charged in connection with what prosecutors described as an inappropriate relationship with the student while she was a teacher at the school in Bardstown.

The case was resolved through a plea agreement, the report said. As part of that agreement, Mattingly would serve five years in prison, WAVE reported. The plea indicates the defendant accepted criminal responsibility for the conduct described in the charge, rather than pursuing the case through trial.

Under Kentucky criminal procedure, a guilty plea generally brings the matter to sentencing after the court accepts the agreement. The plea does not by itself determine final punishment in every case, but the reported prison term reflects the negotiated outcome that both sides presented to the judge for consideration.

WAVE identified Mattingly by name and reported that she was a teacher at Bardstown High School. The report characterized the underlying allegations as sexual abuse involving a student who was 16 at the time, and it noted the case stemmed from allegations of an inappropriate relationship.

For the school community, the case raises continued concerns about adult-student boundaries and the protections required in environments where students rely on educators and other staff for supervision, instruction, and mentorship. Allegations of sexual abuse connected to school roles can also trigger additional review in communities, including questions about how concerns are reported and investigated during a person’s employment.