’14 Miss Kentucky charged with sending nude photos

Ramsey Bearse has long been accustomed to appear- ing before an audience.

She was entranced by the sound of the fiddle as a teen- ager and soon jumped in with older musicians at bluegrass joints in Kentucky, crafting a stage persona with a trademark instrument.

“I have been known as the ‘Girl with the Green Fiddle’ a lot longer than I’ve been known as Miss Kentucky,” Bearse said in 2014 during the preliminary competitions for Miss America.

But on Friday, Bearse, now a middle school science teacher outside Charles- ton, West Virginia, appeared before an audience of one — a magistrate judge who read four felony counts accusing her of sending nude photos of herself to a 15-year-old former student over Snapchat.

Bearse admitted to sending the photos to the male stu- dent after his parents alerted It is not clear whether authorities, The Associated authorities believe other Press reported, citing court students received explicit documents. She had been photos from Bearse. The the student’s teacher for part sheriff ’s office urged anyof his time at Andrew Jack- one with information on the son Middle School, the AP case or similar instances to reported. contact investigators.

A Kanawha County MagisThe Miss America pageant trate Court judge told Bearse did not return a request for the charges carry a maxi- comment about their former mum of 20 years in prison contestant, who competed and a $100,000 fine. She under her maiden name of declined to provide comment Carpenter. to reporters at the county Bearse, who had been court, and her attorney, diagnosed with multiple scleA.L. Emch, did not return rosis, made raising awarea request for comment. ness and research funds for

Bearse was suspended the illness part of her Miss from her position at the American platform four school, the Kanawha County years ago.

Sheriff ’s Office said Friday on She had already lined up Facebook, and was released to speak before neuroloon a $10,000 property bond gists at the National Multifollowing her arraignment. ple Sclerosis Society follow

A spokesman for Kanawha ing the pageant, according County Schools did not to a story from the Lexingreturn a request for com- ton Herald-Leader. ment. Bearse was listed as “I just want to help peoan employee on the school’s ple understand the disease,” website as of Saturday morn- she told the newspaper at ing. the time.