Former Ascension Episcopal School Counselor Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

LAFAYETTE, LA—Dr. Allison Hargrave, 40, of Lafayette, La., a former counselor at Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette, pleaded guilty today in federal court to attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.

Hargrave was indicted in May of 2010 for attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. According to court documents filed today, Hargrave, who was a counselor and yoga instructor at Ascension Episcopal School, began counseling a 14-year-old minor female in the spring of 2009. The relationship between the defendant and the minor female continued through the summer of 2009. In the fall of 2009, Hargrave began texting and e-mailing the minor female student, graphically discussing engaging in sexual activities with the minor and making plans to meet the minor to engage in the sexual activities. Hargrave and the minor female continued to engage in sexual activities throughout 2009 and into January 2010. After engaging in sexual activities during this time, Hargrave continued to text and e-mail the minor female, graphically discussing matters of a sexual nature. Hargrave and the minor female engaged in sexual activities on multiple occasions during the fall of 2009.

At sentencing, Hargrave faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, a $250,000.00 fine, or both. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lafayette Resident Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Luke Walker.