PIKEVILLE – A former Magoffin County Schools teacher charged with online enticement and cyberstalking a juvenile has asked the court for a rearraignment hearing.
On Monday, September 22, Rachel D. Yavelak, with the Baldani Law Group, entered a motion in federal court for a rearraignment hearing for Jordan A. Cobb, 32, of Coon Creek Rd., in Salyersville, stating he wishes to change his plea in his case.
Cobb was federally indicted in April this year and charged with online enticement and cyberstalking. His federal indictment accuses him of attempting “to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual under the age of 18, using a means or facility of interstate commerce, to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, namely, Rape in the Third Degree,” in or about April and May 2023. It further states that between June 2 and June 13, 2024, Cobb allegedly, “with the intent to harass or intimidate another person under the age of 18 years old, used an interactive computer service or electronic communication service of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce, to engage in a course of conduct that causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause emotional distress to that person.”
Cobb is now scheduled for a rearraignment hearing on October 6 at 10 a.m. at the Covington federal courthouse. At press time, a jury trial is scheduled for October 14 in Ashland federal court.
Cobb previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been held for the U.S. Marshals at the Pike County Detention Center since his arrest on April 28.
In March, Cobb was also indicted by a Magoffin County grand jury and charged with one count of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means (Class D felony) and one count of harassing communications (Class B misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about May 2, 2023, Cobb allegedly used a cellular telephone for procuring the use of a person, who was less than 18 years old at the time, in a sexual performance. On or about June 12, 2024, he allegedly, with the intent to intimidate, harass, annoy, or alarm the person, utilized social media to contact the child in a manner which caused annoyance and alarm and served no purpose of legitimate communication.
In May 2023, the SI ran a story confirming a middle school teacher reportedly had “inappropriate communication” with a high school student, and that the matter had been turned over to authorities to be investigated and any criminal prosecution. At the time of that news report, the teacher was no longer employed by Magoffin County Schools.
Cobb was arrested the same day he was indicted, held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, and released on a $25,000 cash bond the next day.
In the local case, a pretrial conference is still set for December 4 at the Magoffin County Justice Center.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
