A former Decatur Public Schools substitute teacher who lured an 11-year-old student to her home for what she called “play dates” before sexually assaulting him faces up to 40 years in prison following her guilty plea to predatory criminal sexual assault charges. Alley Bardfield, 34, admitted in court on 7 August to having sexual relations with the sixth-grade student, with sentencing scheduled for 25 September at Macon County Circuit Court.
The case has sent shockwaves through the small Illinois community of Mount Zion, population 5,000, whilst raising serious questions about safeguarding procedures and mandatory training requirements for school staff across the state.
Discovery of Abuse Triggered by Behavioural Changes
The disturbing case came to light in April 2024 when the victim’s mother noticed concerning changes in her son’s behaviour following an overnight stay at Bardfield’s Mount Zion residence on 29 March 2024. Upon checking the boy’s mobile phone, she discovered explicit messages between her son and the teacher, photographs of them together, and evidence of £560 ($700) sent to the child through the CashApp payment platform over several months.
The victim’s mother reported noticing her son acting differently after a visit to Bardfield’s house,” Mount Zion Police stated in an official statement last year. When confronted about the financial transactions and messages, the 11-year-old disclosed to his mother that he had engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse with his teacher.
The boy had been assigned to Bardfield’s class at Hope Academy in Decatur, where she worked as a long-term substitute teacher after being hired in October 2023.
Pattern of Grooming Through ‘Play Dates’
Court documents and a civil lawsuit filed by the victim’s parents reveal a disturbing pattern of grooming that began in 2023. The teacher invited the student to her home for multiple “play dates” throughout 2023, establishing a relationship that would later turn criminal. The boy visited Bardfield’s residence twice more in March 2024, during which prosecutors say two sexual encounters occurred.
State’s Attorney Diane Couri outlined in court how Bardfield’s sexual relationship with the child was exposed when the mother discovered not only the financial transactions but also nude photographs exchanged via Snapchat between the teacher and student.
These allegations are shocking, especially when the alleged perpetrator is a person in a position of trust,” Mount Zion Police Department officials said. The Mount Zion Police Department is fully committed to working with victims and their families as they deal with the trauma that results from these incidents.
Police Sting Operation Leads to Confession
Following the mother’s discovery, Mount Zion Police orchestrated a carefully planned operation to gather evidence against Bardfield. Working with the victim and his mother, detectives arranged for the boy to communicate with the teacher whilst law enforcement monitored the exchanges.
In text messages monitored by police, the child wrote to Bardfield: “I love you and I miss you, Alley. When I come back I’ll see if I can come over.” The teacher allegedly responded: “You’re always welcome. I love and miss you too.”
Police obtained a court order for a wiretap and had the boy call Bardfield, during which she made incriminating statements. According to court documents, Bardfield told the child that “her tubes are tied and that she cannot get pregnant.” When the victim asked if they could “do it again” if he visited that weekend, Bardfield responded affirmatively.
Officers arrested Bardfield at her home on 3 April 2024, the same day the victim’s mother reported the abuse.
Teacher Admits Guilt But Blames Child
During a Mirandised interview with police following her arrest, Bardfield admitted to having sexual penetration with the victim on one occasion and exchanging nude photographs on Snapchat. She also confessed to sending the child money via CashApp when he requested it.
However, in a shocking attempt to deflect responsibility, Bardfield claimed the 11-year-old had made “sexual advances towards her” on the night of the incident, according to police statements.
Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders negotiated a partial plea deal on Bardfield’s behalf, which saw the state agree to cap its sentencing recommendation at 40 years rather than the maximum 60 years typically possible for a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault.
School District Faces Lawsuit Over Training Failures
The victim’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against both Bardfield and Decatur Public Schools, alleging the district failed to comply with Illinois state law requiring mandatory training for school personnel on preventing sexual abuse.
The lawsuit claims Bardfield never completed state-required training on adult sexual misconduct, ethics on sexual misconduct, recognising and reporting child abuse, or Title IX training before or after her October 2023 hiring at Hope Academy.
Defendant Bardfield never completed any training prior to and subsequent to her hiring at Hope Academy,” the lawsuit states, alleging the district “knew or should have known” she was unfit for the position based on these training failures.
Attorney Reynolds, representing the family, said: “We have an environment that shows a complete disregard, on behalf of the district, of state law. Including state law that provides for trainings that are supposed to prevent situations just like this.”
The lawsuit alleges the Board of Education violated Erin’s Law, which mandates sexual assault prevention training for school employees in Illinois.
Additional Disturbing Details Emerge
Court documents reveal further troubling aspects of the case. After the second sexual encounter, the sixth-grader told Bardfield he wanted to end the relationship. The lawsuit alleges Bardfield subsequently went through the victim’s phone in her classroom whilst he was at break time, attempting to delete TikTok messages between them.
The child spent a total of 25 hours at Bardfield’s home during the overnight stay on 29 March 2024, according to the investigation. Following the abuse, the victim has undergone psychological treatment for what the lawsuit describes as “severe and permanent psychological and emotional distress.”
School District Response and Wider Implications
Decatur Public Schools terminated Bardfield’s employment immediately following her arrest. When asked for comment on the ongoing litigation, a district spokesperson stated: “To maintain the integrity of the investigation process and/or pending litigation regarding Mrs Bardfield, the district will not comment or make a statement.”
The case has sparked broader discussions about child safeguarding in schools and the role of digital platforms in facilitating abuse. The use of apps like Snapchat and CashApp in grooming and exploiting the victim has prompted calls for stricter monitoring of children’s online activities and financial transactions.
Legal experts note the case highlights critical gaps in how schools screen and train substitute teachers, who often have less oversight than permanent staff members.
Awaiting Sentencing
Judge Rodney Forbes will determine Bardfield’s sentence on 25 September at 1:30 PM in courtroom 3A at Macon County Circuit Court. Whilst the state has agreed to cap its recommendation at 40 years, the actual sentence remains at the judge’s discretion, with a minimum of six years required for the Class X felony.
As part of her guilty plea, Bardfield acknowledged she will be required to register as a sex offender for life. When Judge Forbes asked if she understood the full range of penalties she faced, Bardfield simply replied: “Yes, sir,” before being returned to Macon County Jail, where she has been held since her arrest in March 2024.
The Mount Zion community continues to grapple with the betrayal of trust, whilst the victim’s family seeks justice through both criminal and civil proceedings. The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children in educational settings and the critical importance of proper safeguarding measures.
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